The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28) will not only mark the Olympic movement’s return to the U.S. city for the third time, following the 1932 and 1984 editions. They also represent a paradigm shift in the way a global sporting event is organized, with a model designed to address the urban, environmental, and social challenges of one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas. Instead of building massive new infrastructure, the project focuses on reusing existing venues, strengthening local communities, and creating a legacy that will begin to take shape long before the Olympic cauldron is lit.
This vision is also reflected in the sports program. LA28 will feature 36 sports and 353 medal events, incorporating disciplines deeply connected to the sporting culture of the United States, including the return of baseball/softball, cricket, and lacrosse, alongside the Olympic debut of flag football and squash. Adding to this is a historic milestone: for the first time, the women’s football tournament will feature more teams than the men’s tournament, a decision driven by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as part of its commitment to advancing gender equality in sport.
Games Built on the City’s Legacy
LA28’s main objective is to prove that the Olympic Games can be staged without relying on a wave of new construction. Most competitions will take place in venues that are already part of Los Angeles’ sporting landscape. Historic sites such as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will once again host athletics events as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, while the Rose Bowl will once again serve as an Olympic venue. The historic Santa Anita Park will also host equestrian events, just as it did during the 1984 Games.
This strategy is part of the concept known as “radical reuse,” one of the pillars of LA28’s 2025 Impact and Sustainability Plan. Organizers have ruled out building new permanent venues, opting instead for temporary solutions designed to have a second life once the Games are over. Their goal is for at least 90% of the materials used in these structures to be reused or recycled, while the remaining resources will be donated to community organizations. In addition, all Olympic venues will operate using 100% renewable electricity, reinforcing the project’s environmental commitment.
Resilience, Mobility, and Sport to Transform Los Angeles
LA28’s legacy extends far beyond sporting competition. The organizing committee has focused on strengthening the city’s resilience in the face of challenges such as wildfires, rising temperatures, and the protection of urban ecosystems. Through the Resilience Champions program, projects are already being funded to transform public spaces into cooler, shaded areas, reduce wildfire risks near future Olympic venues, and plant native microforests to restore habitats and mitigate urban heat. At the same time, dozens of volunteer initiatives have brought together thousands of residents for beach cleanups, environmental restoration projects, and community support activities.
The impact is also intended to be felt in residents’ daily lives. During the Games, transportation will prioritize trains, buses, bicycles, and walking through a major expansion of the public transit network. At the same time, the PlayLA program is already introducing more than 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports to children and young people across the city, surpassing one million registrations thanks to financial support from the IOC and LA28. Meanwhile, organizers aim for nearly 75% of the event’s spending to benefit businesses across the Los Angeles metropolitan area, with a significant share reserved for small local companies. In this way, the organizing committee hopes that the true success of the Games will not be measured solely by medals won, but by their ability to leave lasting, tangible benefits for the communities that make them possible.
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