The historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the state-of-the art SoFi Stadium will share the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, LA28 announced on Thursday, May 8.
Thursday’s announcement confirms what many leaders in the city and county have lobbied for and was part of L.A.’s 2017 bid — returning the Olympic ceremonies, and hopefully the lighting of the Olympic torch, to the iconic Coliseum in Exposition Park.
Dancers perform prior to the start of a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal between the United States and Panama on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)“The lighting of the Olympic torch is key to the world realizing this is happening, almost as important as the white smoke coming from the Vatican,” noted LA County Supervisor and member of the Coliseum Commission Janice Hahn on Thursday in an interview.
By the two venues sharing the Summer Olympics opening ceremony on July 14, 2028, it marks the third time the Coliseum has held this ceremony, the only stadium to claim that Olympic feat. It also will be an unprecedented dual-venue approach to the games.
“It was always unclear whether the Coliseum would be hosting either of those events,” Hahn said. “I am really pleased with this news. This is something I’ve been speaking to LA28 since they were formed.”
FILE – In this July 28, 1984 file photo, balloons are released into the air from the field of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as part of the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Summer Games return to Los Angeles in 2028. (AP Photo/Dave Tenenbaum, FIle)Los Angeles hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984. The last time, decathlon gold medal winner Rafer Johnson lit the torch that’s still there today at the impressive Coliseum entrance. The $5 million opening extravaganza was seen in person by 92,516 people. The music for the $5 million production, entitled “Music of America,” was composed by John Williams.
“The venues selected for the 2028 opening and closing ceremonies will highlight Los Angeles’ rich sporting history and cutting-edge future, showcasing the very best that L.A. has to offer on the world stage,” LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman said in a statement.
“These two extraordinary venues will create an unforgettable experience, welcoming fans from across the globe to an Olympic and Paralympic Games like never before and concluding what will go down as one of the most incredible Games in history.”
How the ceremonies will unfold, and which venue will hold which aspect of the four events will be determined by the creative directors at a later date, the LA28 explained on background on Thursday. Only the physical locations have been confirmed.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (AP Foto/Kyusung Gong, Archivo)Thursday’s announcement creates some firsts:
• The Coliseum, home to the USC Trojans football team, will become the first venue in history to host three Olympic Games – in 1932, 1984 and 2028.
• Los Angeles will host the Paralympic Games for the first time.
• SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, home to the NFL’s Rams and Chargers, will host Olympic events for the first time, including swimming.
“For over a century, the Coliseum has been a landmark host to some of the most iconic moments in all of sports history. That story continues in 2028 as our City and our region welcomes the world for what will be the greatest Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said L.A. Mayor Karen Bass at a press event Thursday at the Coliseum.
Bass was joined by Inglewood Mayor James Butts.
“Our stadium is one of the most impressive in the world and will deliver an incredible experience for thousands of in-person fans, with millions more watching from home, as we come together to celebrate the Opening Ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Butts said.
The Olympic Games will run from July 14 to July 30, 2028. The closing ceremony takes place on July 30.
About a month later, the Paralympic Games will get underway, running from Aug. 15 to Aug. 27, 2028. The opening ceremony takes place on Aug. 15, while the closing ceremony will be held Aug. 27.
The Rams swarm the field after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win Super Bowl LVI NFL football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)The torch and the statues of two athletes at the entrance is part of its iconic place in history. “I think they should start the torch in Inglewood (at SoFi) and then take the torch to the Coliseum in L.A. The lighting of the torch at the LA Coliseum is indicative of the history of the Olympics in Los Angeles,” Hahn said.
Olympic venues will stretch from Trestles Beach just south of San Clemente to the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area in the San Fernando Valley. Long Beach’s Alamitos Beach, Honda Center in Anaheim, Dodger Stadium, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, and the L.A. County Fairgrounds in Pomona will also be readied as Olympic venues in the summer of 2028.
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