August 11th 2024.
As the closing ceremony for the Paris Olympics approaches, it's time to pass the baton to the next host city. In 2028, the Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles. With four years to go, there are already big changes in store. The LA organizers have selected new sports to debut in the Olympics, as well as bringing back some old favorites that have been absent for over a century.
Paris had its iconic Seine River, but LA has the beautiful Pacific Ocean and its stunning beaches. While Paris boasted historic buildings, LA's streets are a living history of film and television. It's clear that these two cities have their own unique charm and will bring their own distinct flavor to the Games.
So, what can we expect to see at the LA Olympics? Well, for one, there will be some new sports making their Olympic debut. These include flag football, squash, and obstacle racing (think "American Ninja Warrior"). These sports were chosen by the LA organizers, who also made the decision to bring back lacrosse and cricket, two sports that haven't been played in the Olympics since the early 1900s.
But why these specific sports? The Olympics typically feature sports that are played all over the world, but they also have to be desired by the host city. In the case of LA, flag football is a perfect fit. The organizers see it as a representation of the future of American football and its potential for international growth. As for squash, it will join tennis and badminton as racket sports in the Games, and there's even talk of adding padel or pickleball in the future.
One sport that has been a staple in the Olympics since 1912 is modern pentathlon, but it's often been on the brink of being removed. In LA, it will be revamped with the addition of obstacle racing, making it more accessible and exciting for viewers.
Another big change for the LA Olympics is the return of baseball and softball. These sports were dropped after the 2008 Beijing Games, but they will be back for Tokyo in 2021 and again for LA. However, there are some challenges to overcome, such as securing insurance policies for high-value players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.
The LA Olympics will also have a different schedule compared to previous Games. The opening ceremony will take place on July 14, two weeks earlier than the Paris Games. This means that track and field, traditionally a later event, will be moved up to the first week, while swimming will be pushed back to the second week. This change was necessary to accommodate the use of two stadiums for the Games: SoFi Stadium and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
In terms of aesthetics, LA will bring its own unique style to the Olympics. While Paris may have looked stunning on screen, LA is known for its role in modern cinema and television. The city is a hub for creativity in music and fashion, and it's clear that the organizers want to maintain this identity rather than trying to replicate Paris. As LA 2028 chairman Casey Wasserman said, "The 2028 Games will be authentically Los Angeles."
Ultimately, the LA Olympics will be a celebration of the city's future and its embrace of new technology. As the head of Olympic broadcasting, Yiannis Exarchos, puts it, "LA speaks about the future, about new frontiers, about technology." It will be fascinating to see how the city's iconic road events, such as marathons and cycling, will showcase the mythology of the 20th century and its role in Hollywood. The LA Olympics will truly be a spectacle like no other.
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