City Council accepts donated Olympic lifeguard tower for public activations; city to transport and store tower

The Long Beach City Council voted June 3 to accept the donation of a lifeguard tower used in the Paris 2024 handover ceremony to Los Angeles 2028 and authorized city staff to execute any necessary agreement documents. The donation is free to the city; the agreement requires the city to transport, store and maintain the tower and limits its use to noncommercial activations approved by LA28.

Tyler Curley, Deputy City Manager, described the item as an opportunity to secure “an iconic piece of history” connected to the Games and to use it for community activations before, during and after the 2028 Olympics. "We are responsible as a city to transport and store the lifeguard tower," Curley said. Jorge Godinez, the city’s Olympic coordinator, said staff envisions rotating the tower across neighborhoods, pairing it with arts and culture events, and using it as a centerpiece for fan zones or viewing parties during the Games.

The agreement requires LA28 approval for each use because of LA28 branding rights on the tower. Staff said the city will coordinate logistics, approvals and maintenance and will pursue programming that prioritizes equitable access and local arts and businesses.

Council action: A motion to accept the donation carried (motion and second noted on the record; no roll-call tally given). Council members who spoke in favor highlighted opportunities to showcase Long Beach neighborhoods and to use the tower during planned community events such as summer festivals and the Uptown Jazz Festival.

Ending: Staff will coordinate with LA28 on specific activations, logistics and district-level programming and return to the community with plans as events are scheduled.