Stars, stunts and a SoCal concert – Los Angeles stepped into its 2028 Olympic hosting role in true Hollywood style. The flag handover ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympics earlier this month was given a cinematic flair with action star Tom Cruise rappelling off the Stade de France roof, then zooming out of the stadium on a motorcycle after receiving the Olympic flag from LA mayor Karen Bass and celebrated US gymnast Simone Biles, and then jumping on a plane to “deliver” the flag to the United States. Olympians Kate Courtney, Michael Johnson and Jagger Eaton later took turns carrying it until the flag arrived in Long Beach, culminating in an LA beachside concert featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, and Snoop Dogg with Dr Dre.
It was flashy, it was extravagant, it was a showy sneak peek of what’s to come in the 2028 Summer Olympics or LA28. Taking over from Paris, who will continue on to host the 2024 Summer Paralympics from Aug 28 until Sept 8, LA will play host to the Olympics for the third time from July 14 to July 30, 2028. The Southern Californian city had previously hosted in 1932 and 1984, making it the US city with the most time hosting – while the US itself holds the record for the country that has held the Olympic Games the most.
The first time was in St Louis in Missouri (1904), followed by LA twice and later Atlanta, Georgia (1996), making the 2028 event its fifth time. If you’ve been wanting to be an on-site spectator of the Olympics or visit t.