los Angeles 2028: 100 Years of History, Looking to the Future

a special moment is coming when the tradition and future of sports intersect. on July 14, 2028, the world will welcome another celebration of sport at the 34th Summer Olympics (LA28) in Los Angeles, California, USA. this will be the third time the Games have been held in Los Angeles, following the 1932 and 1984 editions, and will have special significance as it celebrates 100 years of history. this year’s Games will herald a new paradigm for the Olympics, with a forward-thinking vision to address many of the challenges facing modern society, including sustainability, digital transformation, and smart city technologies, on the Olympic stage. All eyes are on LA28 to see what legacy it will leave beyond records and victories and how it will redefine the future of the Olympic Games

🚀 Overview and historical significance of the Los Angeles Olympics

on July 14, 2028, the world will once again be immersed in a celebration of sport. the 34th Summer Olympics, or Los Angeles 2028 (LA28), will be held in California, USA. the Games will celebrate 100 years of historyin a special way. 🎆 Los Angeles earns ‘triple Olympic’ honorLos Angeles will become the third city to host three Olympic Games, joining London and Paris. just as the 1932 and 1984 Games helped the city overcome wars and economic crises, the 2028 Games will be an important test for a new model for future Olympics. 💡 In a surprising twist: LA originally wanted the 2024 Olympics?In fact, LA originally wanted to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. however, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) opted for a strategic compromise that awarded the 2024 Games to Paris, France, and the 2028 Games to LA. it’s a rare occurrence in history for two cities to win the bid at the same time. this decision was made by the IOC to provide more stability for the Games

🏟️ Innovative venue operations, ‘most economical Games in Olympic history’

the Los Angeles 2028 Games will be a sustainable Games that makes the most of existing infrastructure: 🔹 Fewer new venues will be built than any other Games in Olympic history🔹 The use of venues spread across Los Angeles will create an “urban Games”🔹 The opening ceremony will likely be held at NFL stadium SoFi StadiumNotably, the Games will use stadium clusters to optimize travel between venues and make the most of existing NFL and NBA stadiums. this is in contrast to the 1976 Montreal Games, which were saddled with decades of debt due to excessive construction costs. 💰 Unexpected: LA Games to be ‘self-sustaining’ without financial support from the IOCThe 2028 Los Angeles Games will be the first Games to be self-sustaining without financial support from the IOC. this is thanks to strong US corporate sponsorship and the economic strength of Los Angeles. this will allow the Games to take place without any additional tax burden

🚗 Innovation in public transportation and smart technology

LA is a notoriously congested city. to address this, the LAOCis working on self-driving shuttles and public transit improvements, including: 🔹 Introducing self-driving taxis and electric buses🔹 Considering expanding the LA Metro and making it free🔹 Creating an eco-friendly mobility systemIn particular, the LAOC will work with Tesla, Google, and Uber to create an AI-powered smart transportation system. this means that the 2028 Olympics will be more than just a sporting event, but a stage to showcase the future of smart cities

🎮 LA28 evolving into a ‘digital Olympics’

LA28 will be the first Olympics to incorporate digital technologies: 🔹 Introducing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology🔹 Launching a Metaverse venue, allowing virtual viewing🔹 Issuing NFT-based Olympic souvenirsIn particular, fans will be able to enjoy a “virtual Olympic experience” that allows them to virtually visit venues via the Metaverse and have the same experience as if they were there through VR devices. this is a new way to maximize fan engagement while also allowing international fans to enjoy the games without having to travel to the venues. 💡 Unexpected twist: Esports will be included as an official sport?To date, esports is not an official Olympic sport, but it is likely to be included as a demonstration sport at the 2028 LA Games. The IOC is actively considering introducing esports to appeal to younger generations, and it’s an exciting endeavor because it’s a fusion of traditional sports and digital entertainment

🔮 2028, a new paradigm for the Olympics

The LA Olympics is more than just a sporting event. it will be a futuristic Games that combines sustainability, digital innovation, public transportation innovation, economic self-reliance models, and more. 💡 What willbe the legacy of the Los Angeles Games in 2028?

• a model for a “sustainable Olympics” for the world
• combining smart city technology and sports
• creating the most economical Olympic operating model in history

together, the Los Angeles 2028 Games will be more than just a sports festival, but the beginning of the “Olympics of the Future

🚀 Major sports and competition schedule – a blend of tradition and innovation

the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will transform the sporting landscape

the Olympics is the pinnacle of sport. but it’s also a time for change. the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28) will be a modernized version of that, with new sports inaddition to the traditional ones .🎯 35 official sports in total

• retention of existing Olympic sports (athletics, swimming, gymnastics, soccer, basketball, etc.)
• select additional sports (cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash, etc.)
• keep sports introduced at the Tokyo Games, including skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing

What makes LA28 unique is its mix of traditional and modern sports

New sports introduced at LA28

🎾 Cricket (T20 format) – Returning to the Olympics, with India and England in the spotlight

have you ever seen cricket at the Olympics? In fact, cricket will return to the Olympic stage for the first time in 128 years since the 1900 Paris Games. 📌 Why is it important?

• expect heated competition from cricketing powers like India, Pakistan, England, and Australia
• Played as a T20 (shortened version of the game), which speeds up the pace of the game
• increase in Asian TV audiences, boosting global awareness of the Olympics

💡 F lip side:One of the reasons for the inclusion of cricket is the IOC’s strategic decision to aggressively pursue the Indian market. the inclusion of cricket is likely to explode interest in the Olympics in India

🏈 F lag Football – NFL meets Olympics

The NFL is coming to the Olympics? That’s right. flag football is similar to traditional American football, but instead of tackling, it’s played with a flag. 📌 Why was flag football included in the Olympics?

• strong push by the NFL toglobalize American sports
• less physical contact allows for mixed gender play
• fast-paced, dynamic gameplay appeals to younger generations

💡 F lip side:NFL players will likely play in the Olympics. if some star athletes represent their countries, this sport has the potential to be the most watchedsport in the world

🥍 Lacrosse – The Olympic connection to indigenous cultures

lacrosse is a traditional game played by Native Americans. it became an Olympic sport when the United States and Canada became dominant and developed a modernized version of the game. 📌 Interesting fact

• returning to the Olympics 120 years after 1904 and 1908
• fast-paced and strategic
• the IOC’s willingness to develop traditional sports into modern ones

💡 Unexpected twist:Lacrosse is culturally significant as the sport was created by Native Americans. there is a possibility that a Native American team will be specially invited to the Olympics

🎾 S quash – Fierce battles in a ‘glass box’

squash is a high-intensity racket sport played inside an enclosed glass court. it’s popular in Europe and Asia, and requires a high level of athleticism and quick reaction time. 📌 Why squash now?

• growing fan base in Asia and Europe
• fast-paced matches, perfect for TV coverage
• lots of up-and-coming talent

💡 Upsetting point:Squash has been hoping to be included in the Olympics for decades, but it won’t be until 2028

📅 Schedule of key matches and predicted highlights

✅ Opening Ceremony (July 14, Sofai Stadium)

• ahybrid opening ceremony modelmay be introduced
• traditional stadium show + possible Hollywood flavor

athletics (July 20 – July 29)

• 100 meter finals (men and women): the ‘highlight event’ of the Olympics
• marathon: A unique course that passes through major attractions in downtown LA

✅ Basketball Finals (July 30, Crypto.com Arena)

• USA vs European powers, featuring NBA stars

football Final (July 29, Rose Bowl Stadium)

• taking place in the historic stadium that hosted the 1994 World Cup Final

flag Football Final (July 28, Sofy Stadium)

• Expect huge interest if NFL players participate

cricket final (July 27, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)

• india vs Pakistan? Could be the hottest rivalry in history

skateboarding Finals (July 26, X Games Park, LA)

• expect a fusion of skateboarding and street culture at the Olympics

surfing Final (July 25, Huntington Beach)

• the best of the best will take place against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean’s raging waves

🔮 2028, a moment that will define the future of sports

📌 LA28 is a testing ground for sports innovation

• unlike the traditional Olympic Games, it is centered around younger and more dynamic sports
• includes cricket, flag football, and lacrosse to showcase the global reach of sports
• examining the possibility of adopting eSports as a demonstration event

💡 Twist element

• possibility of the opening ceremony being a ‘parade through town’ format rather than a traditional stadium opening ceremony
• Discussing the possibility of introducing AI referees
• experimenting with the first metaverse stadium

🚀 Economic impact and controversy – opportunities and challenges

💰 Economic impact of the 2028 LA Olympics: Is it possible to have a ‘profitable Olympics’?

hosting the Olympics always has a huge economic impact. but will the 2028 Los Angeles Games (LA28) be able to operate in the black?✅ Estimated economic impact

• Economic boost for the LA region: estimated economic impact of $88 billion ($115 trillion)
• employment creation: approximately 700,000 new jobs
• increased tourism revenues: 10 million+ visitorsexpected to visit LA for the Games

🎯 2028 Olympics, the “most economical Olympics ever” model

The expectationthat LA28 will be able to operate in the black is due to the fact that the Games will utilize existing facilities: 🔹 Maximize existing infrastructure without building new venues🔹 Be self-funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)🔹 Attract large global corporate sponsorships (tech companies such as Google, Apple, Tesla, etc: is it realistic to run an Olympic Games in the black?

• montreal 1976: $1 billion deficit → 30 years to pay off debt
• rio 2016: stadiums were abandoned due to high maintenance costs
• 1984 Los Angeles Olympics: $250 million surplus, one of the most successful Olympic operations in history

LA28 is strategizing to replicate the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic model

⚠️ Economic challenges facing LA28

🛑 Homelessness and widening gap between rich and poor

there are currently over 70,000 homeless people livingin LA, and the number is growing📌 Problem

• possible evictions of homeless people ahead of the Olympics
• rising real estate prices are making living conditions worse for low-income citizens
• possible displacement of homeless people to neighboring areas to improve city aesthetics

💡 Reversal point

• at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics , more than 20,000 homeless people were forcibly evicted
• the 2024 Paris Olympics are facing similar issues, and LA is likely to be mired in the same controversy

🚗 Traffic jams, will it be ‘LA’s nightmare’?

LA has one of the worst traffic congestion problems in the U.S.📌 The problem

• an additional 1 million+ visitors are expected during the Olympics
• transportation issues between venues will likely lead to increased road congestion
• lack of public transportation infrastructure, so something needs to be done to address congestion

🔹 So lution

• LA Metro expansion project (3 more train lines will be added)
• introducing self-driving shuttles (working with Tesla and Uber to operate electric-powered self-driving buses)
• free public transportation during the Olympics

📌 Thetwist

• LA City is planning the Olympics’ first “smart transportation system” that will utilize self-driving technology
• an underground high-speed tunnel system (aka ‘Musk Tunnel Project’) could revolutionize LA transportation if completed

🌍 Green Olympics vs. Environmental Controversy

LA28 aims to be the ‘greenest Olympics ever’ ✅ Major plans to protect the environment

• net Zero Olympics, reducing carbon emissions by more than 50%
• use solar and renewable energy in all venues
• remodeling existing facilities to avoid unnecessary waste of construction materials
• ban single-use plastics and strengthen recycling policies

⚠️ The problem?

• after the Olympics are over, venues can fall into disrepair due to the cost of maintaining them
• there is a risk of a repeat of the neglected venuesafter past LA Olympics

📌 Reversal factor

• LA28 is working on an “urban revitalization project” to convert stadiums into public facilities (gyms, museums, performance venues) after the Olympics
• designed to be 100% recyclable after stadium deconstruction

💡How will LA28change the future of sports?

🎮The IOC is currently considering the inclusion of eSports as an Olympic sport📌 LA28 could be the starting point for an eSports Olympics

• so far, esports has only been a demonstration sport in the Olympics
• with the US being one of the leading countries in the eSports market, there is a strong possibility that LA28 could be the first time eSports will be included
• combined with the Metaverse platform, it could create a new paradigm of the ‘digital Olympics’

🔮 2028, a new paradigm for the Olympic Games

✅ What is the legacy of LA28?

• ‘Most Affordable Olympics’ → Establishing a sustainable competition model without financial burden
• ‘Smart Olympics’ → Digital sports revolution utilizing AI, autonomous driving, and metaverses
• ‘Green Olympics’ → Setting a new standard for the sustainability of the Olympic Games

💡 Unexpected twist

• Possibility of experimenting with AI referees (beyond VAR systems, AI-based officiating)
• athletes’ virtual training through the metaverse may be officially introduced
• possibility of becoming the first Olympic city to go carbon neutral

🚀 Conclusion: will the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics be the start of the Olympics of the future?

📌 C ould LA28 set a new standard for the Olympics?

• will it be an economically and environmentally sustainable event that breaks away from the wasteful Olympic model ?
• will the smart technology and AI innovations that will shape the future of sport succeed?

all of these questions will be answered in Los Angeles in the summer of 2028.