By Lila Brown, California Black Media
(CBM) – From politicians and businesspeople to athletes and community leaders, a number of Black Californians are contributing to the thought leadership that is shaping the planning of LA28, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
At the forefront is Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor, Karen Bass, who has, in many ways, become the face of the Games in the City of Angels.
“The 2028 Games present an incredible opportunity to unite our city and lift up every corner of Los Angeles,” said Bass during a historic event at Los Angeles City Hall on Sept. 13, when the Olympic and Paralympic flags were unveiled and installed.
The event marked the return of the Olympic flag to L.A. since 1984, when the city hosted the Olympics for the second time. It was the first time the Paralympic flag was raised in California’s largest city.
“From creating jobs to supporting small businesses, we are committed to ensuring that these Games benefit all Angelenos — not just for the summer of 2028, but for decades to come,” Bass added.
On Aug. 11, Bass received the Olympic flag at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, making history by becoming the first ever Black woman Mayor to receive the Olympic flag at a closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. Team USA Gymnast Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, joined Bass on stage, sharing that historic moment.
Nearly two months after the Olympic flag handover from Paris to Los Angeles, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach visited Los Angeles.
Accompanied by IOC Vice-President Nicole Hoevertsz, head of the Coordination Commission for the LA28 Games, and IOC Members Anita DeFrantz and Hong Zhang, Bach was welcomed by Bass and LA28 President Casey Wasserman.
Bach toured several of the city’s newest world-class sporting venues, including the SoFi Stadium and the recently opened Intuit Dome, both located in Inglewood. At the stadiums, he was joined by two other Los Angeles County Black mayors, whose cities will be key to hosting LA28 events: Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson.
SoFi Stadium, known as the home of NFL teams the LA Rams and LA Chargers, will host swimming competitions during the LA28 Games, with a temporary pool set to make it the largest swimming venue in Olympic history, boasting 38,000 seats. Intuit Dome, Inglewood’s newest state-of-the-art venue and home to the LA Clippers, will host the Olympic basketball tournament in the 18,000-seat arena.
In an interview with California Black Media, Butts highlighted Inglewood’s central role in the upcoming Games, stating, “Inglewood will host the Opening and Closing ceremonies, basketball, and swimming competitions of the 2028 Olympic Games. This will be our second hosting of Olympic Basketball, the first in 1984.”
By 2028, Inglewood will have hosted two Super Bowls, the 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend, and eight FIFA World Cup Soccer matches in 2026. Inglewood has become the sports entertainment epicenter of the United States,” Butts added.
Butts said the LA28 will also be a boon to his city’s economy, pointing out that
30% of subcontractors are minority-and women-led disadvantaged businesses. Nearly 88% of Inglewood residents identify as Black or Latino. Among his goals are reaching 35% in development agreements. He also pointed to a reduction in unemployment in Inglewood — from 17.5% in 2011 to 5% today.
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, President of the Los Angeles City Council, also attended the tour.
Harris-Dawson is one of the leading backers of PlayLA, a parks development program that promises to provide sports programming to “young Angelenos of all abilities.” The initiative is funded by a $160 million investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the International Olympic Committee.
“An investment in neighborhood parks is an investment in our families and community. The benefits are priceless,” said Harris-Dawson. “Outdoor spaces that are responsive to the needs of the neighborhood and offer programming and activities that residents want become the heartbeat of community life.”
Black Californians serving on the LA28 Board include Businesswoman Mellody Hobson; decorated Paralympian Lex Gillette; former Netflix Executive Dana Smith; President of the LA County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Yvonne Wheeler; and television host, retired sprinter and four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson.
Among those in attendance at the unveiling of the flag in Los Angeles were Black Olympians such as Marcus Tupuola, a USA Rugby Sevens player who grew up in Carson, and Paralympian Arrell Middleton, a 16-year-old shotput silver medalist from Rancho Cucamonga. Other Paralympians Ashley Dyce, Korban Best, Isaac Charmond Jean-Paul, as well as several civic leaders and LA28 executives also attended.
At that event, Bass emphasized the event’s theme, “Games for All,” underscoring the significance of the Games for every Angeleno and the transformative impact they could have on the city’s residents, particularly those from underserved communities.
The mayor highlighted the city’s focus on inclusivity, stressing that the Games would serve as a catalyst for lasting change across the region.
Cheryl Miller, the USC Basketball legend and 1984 Olympic gold medalist, also spoke at the ceremony, reminiscing about her own experience competing on home soil. “It was such an honor and privilege to be an Olympian in my own backyard… LA 2028 will be nothing but spectacular,” Miller said.
Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, a group that has long been a symbol of the city’s commitment to nurturing young talent from underserved communities, performed.
For Black Californians, the 2028 Games signify more than a sporting event; they represent an opportunity for increased visibility, economic advancement, and social progress.
Rosalyn Brant Clark, a 1976 Olympic silver medalist and mother of three-time Paralympian Breanna Clark, said while the “Games for All” theme is promising, she is looking for more concrete action that impacts the lives of ordinary people, including Black Californians.
“They are going to need to show me more on that one before it gets my stamp of approval,” she added, challenging organizers to ensure genuine inclusivity.
