LA28 officials brief council on venues, sponsors, accessibility and transit planning for 2028 Games

LOS ANGELES — Representatives of the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee (LA28) gave a verbal update to the Los Angeles City Council ad hoc committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, outlining venue choices for ceremonies, recent sponsorships, outreach to international delegations and planning work on accessibility and transportation.

John Harper, chief operating officer for LA28, told the committee the organizing team is “on track to bring the world class games to Los Angeles in 2028,” and said the International Olympic Committee has confirmed the medal-event program. Harper said the Olympic opening ceremony will be a dual-venue event split between the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and that both the Olympic and Paralympic closing ceremonies will be held at the Coliseum. Harper said the Paralympic opening ceremony is scheduled at SoFi Stadium and noted that 2028 will be the first time Los Angeles hosts the Paralympic Games.

Harper reported commercial progress as well: he said LA28 has announced five commercial partners so far — AECOM, “SAFTA” (as announced), PennyMac, Archer and Cedars‑Sinai — and that more partners are expected in coming months. He also said LA28 is hosting its first National Olympic Committee (NOC) and National Paralympic Committee (NPC) “open day” this week as a technical-planning and pre‑training outreach to delegations.

Council members asked for specific updates on venue planning and operations. Councilmember Mike Price asked about plans for diving and whether renderings would be available in June; Harper replied, “Our current plan does call for diving to be held at John CRU,” and said additional renderings and details — including for the Sepulveda Basin — will be shared after LA28 announces its Paralympic venue plan. Councilmember Nithya Padilla asked that accessibility be prioritized in venue design, recalling lessons from Paris; Padilla referenced a motion on the committee agenda asking LA28 and city departments to work with the Department on Disability and the Civil and Human Rights Enforcement Department to develop an accessibility plan, and noted that “ADA compliance is at the forefront of the conversation.” That motion was on the meeting’s consent calendar and was approved by the committee.

Committee members also pressed LA28 on transit, marketing and new mobility pilots. Harper said the organizing committee is pursuing a “transit‑first” strategy, coordinating with Metro and other mobility partners and developing a signage and wayfinding working group in collaboration with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the Games Mobility Executive Group. He confirmed LA28 had announced a vertical‑takeoff “aero taxi” partnership and said LA28 will continue to work with that partner to define how the service will be showcased and used during the Games, while reiterating a broader commitment to transit and supplemental bus programs to move spectators and workforce.

Councilmembers pressed for more concrete, recurring reporting: how LA28 will coordinate with Metro and LAWA, when marketing and promotional materials will begin appearing locally, how LA28 will use city facilities for athlete practice, and how volunteer recruitment will be coordinated with Rec and Parks’ existing vetted lists. Harper said LA28’s volunteer recruitment strategy is being built this year and that a large volunteer program “typically wouldn't be started for another number, probably another 18 months.” He said LA28 is adding staff focused on look, feel and signage and will continue to update the committee on transit and wayfinding work.

Several council members, including Councilmember Kevin Rodriguez, pressed LA28 to show the committee concrete procurement and workforce outcomes and to develop intentional small‑business engagement and training so local businesses can compete for Games-related contracts. Rodriguez asked for a report of tangible outcomes from LA28’s small‑business and workforce working groups at the committee’s next meeting; Harper said LA28 is developing procurement and workforce strategies and will return with updates.

The committee took no formal action on the LA28 verbal update; by rule, the item was informational only. The committee did, earlier in the meeting, adopt a consent calendar that included a motion requesting an accessibility plan; that consent calendar passed on a roll call vote.