Los Angeles takes center stage at Paris 2024 closing ceremony as host city of 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games

In a spectacular closing ceremony for the 2024 Olympic Games, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received the official Olympic flag from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, marking the countdown to the LA28 Games. Adam Burke, President & CEO, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, was also in Paris to gain insights into the tourism impact and further understand the preparations ahead of 2028.

“We’re honored to join Mayor Karen Bass to commemorate the historic handover of the Olympic flag from Paris to Los Angeles,” said Adam Burke, President & CEO, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. “We can’t wait to roll out the red carpet for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games where LA will become the third city in history – and first in the U.S. – to host the Games a record three times, joining Paris and London on the medal stand. The handover raises visibility for the City of Angels as one of the true sports capitals of the world. Félicitations to our friends in Paris for an incredible job!”

Los Angeles is celebrating an unparalleled decade of world-class sporting events and will welcome the FIFA World Cup, NBA All-Star Game, and U.S. Women’s Open Championship in 2026, and Super Bowl LXI in 2027, culminating with the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. LA offers something for every sports fan year-round with 11 professional sports teams – the most in the United States – and some of the world’s most iconic sports and entertainment venues. The LA28 venue plan will utilize these existing stadiums as part of their sustainability efforts.

Highlights will include SoFi Stadium hosting the largest swimming venue in Olympic history with 38,000 seats; the iconic and recently refurbished LA Memorial Coliseum becoming the only stadium in history to host Track and Field competitions in three Olympic Games; diving will return to the same pool that hosted the Aquatics events in the 1932 Olympic Games; Basketball will take over the new Intuit Dome arena opening this month; and events will be held in the San Fernando Valley for the first time with the BMX, Skateboarding and Archery competitions.

Sports tourism currently generates 10% of the world’s expenditure on tourism, with an estimated growth rate of 17.5%, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism, according to UN Tourism, so tourism bosses are optimistic for a boost in visitors coming to LA to experience sports in the coming years.