During his official visit to Los Angeles, the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee -HOC-, Isidoros Kouvelos, met with the Chairman of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee-LA28-, Casey Wasserman, to discuss matters related to the preparations for the upcoming Games and the Lighting and Handover Ceremonies of the Olympic Flame in Greece.
The discussions focused on the coordination leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games, including the cultural and ceremonial aspects of the Lighting of the Olympic Flame in Ancient Olympia and the Handover Ceremony at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. Both sides emphasized the importance of preserving the authenticity and symbolism of these events, which are considered the spiritual prologue to every edition of the Olympic Games.
A link between history and the Olympic future
The meeting marks a new step forward in the cooperation between the HOC and the LA28 Organizing Committee, aimed at ensuring the proper planning of the pre-Games ceremonies. The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will be held from 14 to 30 July, and this meeting forms part of the institutional preparations leading up to the next Olympic cycle.
The tradition of lighting the Olympic Flame in Greece dates back to 1936 and remains one of the most symbolic rituals of the Olympic Movement. For the most recent edition, the Paris 2024 Games, the flame was lit in Ancient Olympia on 16 April 2024 and then handed over at the Panathenaic Stadium before its journey to France. Although the official date for the Los Angeles 2028 lighting ceremony has not yet been announced, the meeting between the HOC and LA28 lays the groundwork for one of the most emblematic moments of the Games.
The Hellenic Olympic Committee continues to play a central role as guardian of Olympic traditions and custodian of the ceremonies that connect the modern Games with their ancient Greek origins. The collaboration with the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee reinforces this legacy, ensuring that the symbolism and spirit of the Olympic Movement remain alive at the threshold of every new edition.
