LOS ANGELES: The Olympic flag arrived under bright skies in Los Angeles on Monday, marking the beginning of a four-year journey to prepare for the 2028 Games. Officials now face the challenge of organizing an event that can rival the highly praised Paris edition, all while navigating the complexities of a notoriously traffic-clogged metropolis.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, arriving in a plane adorned with palm trees and the “LA 2028” logo, proudly held the five-ringed Olympic banner as she crossed the tarmac alongside several U.S. athletes. “We feel the pressure to ensure our city and region are ready,” she told reporters. “We have the flag now. It’s on us. We got a lot of work to do, Los Angeles.”
A timely reminder of the city’s unique challenges came moments before her plane landed, as a 4.6-magnitude earthquake shook Los Angeles. Bass emphasized the importance of being prepared for such events, as well as other climate-related challenges that the region may face.
However, the biggest hurdle will undoubtedly be transportation. In Paris for the closing ceremony last weekend, Bass revealed plans for Los Angeles to host a “no-car Games.” In a city where private vehicles dominate and traffic jams are a daily occurrence, this pledge is ambitious.
James Moore, an industrial and systems engineering professor at the University of Southern California, expressed his doubts: “I’m skeptical we’ll achieve that, but I know we’re going to try.”
