The International Olympic Committee and the organizers of Los Angeles 2028 expressed their full confidence on Thursday that the recent immigration ban announced by former President Donald Trump will not affect the preparation or staging of the Olympic Games. The ban, which seeks to restrict entry to citizens of 12 countries and partially limit entry to seven others, includes a specific exception for Olympic events.

Casey Wasserman, president of the LA28 organizing committee, said after a meeting with the IOC coordination commission that the federal government has made it clear that the Olympic Games will be a priority. “The government understands that the Games are a global event and that they must ensure an environment that allows everyone involved to participate.”

Guarantees for Olympic Games participants

The contract signed in 2017 between Los Angeles, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and the IOC states that representatives, employees, and other persons associated with the Games will be guaranteed temporary entry into the United States “without limitations.” This includes members of the IOC, national Olympic committees, international sports federations, media, marketing partners, and other key players.

Nicole Hoevertsz, IOC vice president and chair of the LA28 coordination commission, stressed that the federal government has guaranteed that participants from the 206 countries competing in the Games will be able to enter the country. “We are fully confident that this will be fulfilled,” Hoevertsz said, underscoring the importance of collaboration between local and federal authorities.

Countries affected by the immigration ban

The immigration ban announced by Trump affects countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, among others, while partial restrictions apply to nations such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Laos. Despite this, LA28 organizers have received assurances that athletes and other participants involved in the Games will be exempt from these restrictions.

Attention fans…

However, the ban does not mention international fans who often travel to events such as the Olympic Games or the World Cup. This could create uncertainty for spectators planning to attend both Los Angeles 2028 and the Men’s World Cup, which the United States will co-host in 2026 alongside Canada and Mexico.