2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles??
Watch his 7:10 video. “Charlie Kirk Makes the Case For Relocating the Olympics From L.A. to Texas“
Several news sources state that the allies of the President-elect have urged him to move the 2028 Games to another location, but he is pledging his full support for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
I encourage you to subscribe to The Sports Examiner, a free site that provides comprehensive coverage of Olympic sports news, to read accurate stories about the 2028 Games.
January 12 Issue
I was born and spent my first 59 years in Los Angeles. The horrific images of fire and devastation from the Palisades Fire are of places I know well and of where friends live, whose homes have been damaged or destroyed.
This unimaginable destruction has come to an area – Southern California – which has paid much more attention to earthquakes than fire. The 1971 San Fernando quake (6.6) killed 65 and the 1994 Northridge quake (6.7) killed 57 and caused as much as $40 billion in damage.
But there is also damage being inflicted by mis-information and dis-information on multiple sides, including about the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Having been a Vice President of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the transformational 1984 Games and been deeply involved in 20 multi-day, multi-site events in my career, there is no doubt in my mind of this:
The devastating 2025 Southern California fires pose no threat to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The most ridiculous commentary I have seen so far is from an Egyptian “investigative journalist” who posted a 10 January story headlined, “LA is burning—should it still host the 2028 Olympics?”
The story goes on to show a list of the 20 largest fires in California history and claim that seven of the top 20 were in July, when the 2028 Games will take place. The list actually shows two, both in Northern California counties from 500-600 miles north of Los Angeles. Maybe he was absent from some math classes, and California geography probably wasn’t a priority subject in Egyptian schools.
This kind of trash has shown up multiple times in multiple places over the last few days, but there are some truths that can be reported about the fires and the 2028 Games. Let’s try this again:
The devastating 2025 Southern California fires pose no threat to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
At least so far. The historically high Santa Ana winds that propelled the Palisades and Eaton fires into storms – 70 to 100 miles per hour in places on 7 January, when the fires exploded – have calmed as this is written on Sunday evening (12th). There is concern about winds increasing to as much as half that speed late Monday (13th) and on Tuesday (14th). By mid-day Wednesday (15th), conditions should resume a more normal shape and the biggest dangers for fire spread will have subsided.
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Fire Department issued a updated alert, rolling back an evacuation order to an evacuation warning on the eastern edge of the Palisades Fire that was moving toward the Brentwood section of west Los Angeles and nearing the UCLA campus, site of the Olympic Village in 2028. It’s not moving that way at present, and if this week’s winds can be managed, the danger will likely be over.
There are other reasons why any hysteria over the 2028 Games and the Palisades and Eaton Fires is misplaced:
● Not one of the planned venues for the 2028 Games has been directly impacted by the fires. The only one close to the fire area is Riviera Country Club, slated to host golf, which is in the Palisades area. But it has not been hit as yet.
● The reason Los Angeles can host the 2028 Games is its wealth of facilities. If Riviera were to be impacted, there are more than a dozen other championship courses in the area. For the 1984 Games, only three new venues were built, for cycling, swimming and shooting; two are still in use and the third was turned into a multi-venue complex for a half-dozen sports.
For 2028, nothing is being built and for almost every venue, there are others not being used that could be if desired. Even the irreplaceable UCLA Village was one of two villages in 1984: the other was at the University of Southern California and it’s still there.
● By the way, the no. 1-ranked UCLA women’s basketball team was scheduled to play Penn State at Pauley Pavilion on campus on Wednesday. On Sunday, it was announced that the game has been moved to the Walter Pyramid at Long Beach State, just in case and in part due to continuing poor area air quality due to the fires. No problem.
● The Olympic and Paralympic Games are a long way off, relative to the impact of the fires. At Riviera Country Club, the focus is not on 2028, but on the annual PGA Tour’s Genesis Open, scheduled for 13-16 February. The PGA Tour said Thursday, “At this point, it is premature to discuss the potential impact on the Genesis Invitational.”
And well prior to 2028, the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open will be held at Riviera. But no one is talking about that, right?
● The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, now slated for temporary installations for archery, BMX cycling and skateboarding is in Encino and could be threatened. But the totally temporary nature of the 2028 sports means there is virtually no infrastructure needed, at all.
However, there will be impacts on the 2028 Games from the fires, no doubt. Some of these will include:
● The LA28 organizers will see the costs for insurance for the Games rise significantly (by millions), partly from increased risks, but also because major insurers will be spending billions to pay policy holders from the fires.
● Costs will be added for the organizing committee for fire prevention and readiness for the Games, and local fire chiefs will offer no breaks or leniency on permitting and emergency readiness for the temporary installations needed for the Games.
● Los Angeles will rebuild, and the politicians have already started pointing to 2028 as a time to show off the recovery. California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) told NBC’s Meet The Press today:
“Not to be naively optimistic, [having the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Games] only reinforces the imperative moving quickly.”
And Newsom, who actively campaigned against President-elect Donald Trump, praised him:
“President of the United States, Donald Trump, to his credit, was helpful in getting the Olympics to the United States of America, to get it down here to L.A. We thank him for that. This is an opportunity for him to shine, for this country to shine, for California and this community to shine.”
He added that a recovery plan is in the early stages of development: “We’re already organizing a ‘Marshall Plan,’ we already have a team looking to reimagine L.A. 2.0 and we’re making sure everyone is included, not just the folks on the coast, the people here who were ravaged by this disaster.”
What the prophets of disaster forget – they weren’t here, but I was – is that the area recovered quickly after the 1994 Northridge quake. A section of the Santa Monica Freeway – a key artery – collapsed, but was restored within three months, earlier than expected. The Northridge area required much longer to recover, but it has; anyone who has seen the lines at Brent’s Delicatessen in recent weeks can bear witness. The scale of the fire destruction in the Palisades will require years, but it will come, albeit with much frustration and pain.
The politics of the fires will burn considerably longer than the fires themselves. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was out of the country last Tuesday and has received considerable anger about the fires; a petition against her has gathered more than 100,000 signatures. Perhaps more damaging was a post on X by Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who was himself evacuated from his home:
“Maybe the lesson we learned out of this catastrophe in California is to now vote not based on left or right or D versus R but perhaps based on competent or no experience in operating a job !! We have to elect based on competence…yes competence matters.”
Bass, 71, is up for re-election in 2026 and how the rebuilding from the fires is handled will be a key campaign point. She has, up to this point, been quite popular for a dedicated fight against the top issue in the area: homelessness.
The 2028 Games may be challenged by any number of issues, not the least of which are wars, trade tensions, politics of all kinds and interference from all sides. And please do not forget about earthquakes.
But, unless the winds come back in a big way on Monday and Tuesday, the 2025 fires in Southern California will not be one of them.
Rich Perelman
Editor
January 13 Issue
“Particularly dangerous situation (PDS) Red Flag Warning in effect 4 am Tuesday until noon Wednesday due to damaging northeast to east winds and low humidities. …
“There will likely be damaging winds gusting between 55 and 70 mph across portions of the red flag warning area from early Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning, leading to the PDS Red Flag Warning upgrade. areas in the Red Flag Warning (especially during the PDS time frame) will have a high risk for large fires with very rapid fire spread, extreme fire behavior, and long range spotting.
“While dangerous PDS Red Flag Fire weather conditions are likely with this event early Tuesday morning into Wednesday morning, this wind event is not expected to be as strong and destructive as last week`s windstorm.”
That is from the U.S. National Weather Service on Monday afternoon, with the warnings for high winds again – less than last week – that could cause more damage, especially from the Palisades Fire, which is under better control, but still dangerous.
This fire has threatened Riviera Country Club, slated as the site for golf for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but without any damage so far. The UCLA campus has gone to remote learning just in case the easterly winds move toward the campus.
¶
The LA28 organizing committee posted a message of support on X last week:
“To LA, our city, our community, our home –
“We are eternally grateful to the firefighters, first responders, and everyday Angelenos working around the clock to keep us safe from the devastating wildfires.
“Our hearts are broken, but we are resilient and so proud to be part of this united and kind community.”
There was also a link to a page with more links to fire, housing and Red Cross sites.
¶
The fires are also a problem for athletes, with so many in the L.A. area, and disruptions to training schedules. Brian Melekian, the President of the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, south of San Diego, posted a statement which included:
“Sport may not seem the highest priority right now, but we understand the need and comfort of routine, for athletes training for collegiate championships, professional competition, and international events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“For athletes affected here in Southern California, we are here to offer you a place to train, eat and rest. We can provide you a community to feel safe in the company of a caring environment. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
“There are tough and challenging times, and we are steadfast in our desire to be there for you: tomorrow, or any time in the near future.”
The Chula Vista facility opened in 1995 as a U.S. Olympic training facility but is now independent and has facilities for more than a dozen sports, plus housing and dining.
¶
A survey of International Federations Web sites found one salute to Los Angeles, from the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique:
“The whole world has been shocked by the news of wildfires in Los Angeles and the huge scale of devastation they have left in their wake.
“The FIG commends the work of all those involved in emergency and rescue work in order to protect the lives of those at risk due to these catastrophic fires.
“’Gymnastics is a huge sport in the US and USA Gymnastics has thousands of members in Los Angeles,’ said FIG President Morinari Watanabe.
“’It is so sad to see the level of destruction across the region at the start of a new year. Our thoughts are with the gymnastics family, our friends at the Organising Committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the entire population of the region at this difficult time. The FIG will do everything it can to support affected gymnasts in the region.’”
January 15 Issue
The good news started with the Tuesday morning Los Angeles-area forecast notes from the National Weather Service:
“Winds starting off generally a little lighter than expected as previous models were a little heavy handed for today.”
“Winds are mostly under 30 mph and confined to a corridor that runs from Acton to Oxnard and about 20 miles either side. This corridor still does not include the Palisades fire area as the wind axis still has a stronger east component than a north.”
While the “Red Flag Warnings” have continued and have all emergency service providers on a continued high alert, Wednesday morning’s forecast discussion – at 9:31 a.m. Pacific time – was considerably calmer in tone:
“Day 9 now of offshore flow and still getting some gusts into the 50s across some of the valleys of western LA and eastern Ventura Counties as well as the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains.
“May see a 5-10 mph wind increase through the morning hours as is typical with offshore conditions, but weakening again in the afternoon and evening. Overall, we`re definitely on the back end of this long stretch of Santa Ana winds but winds expected to continue into Thursday morning before onshore flow finally returns by afternoon.”
This is great news for crews who are still battling the Palisades Fire (23,713 acres burned; 19% contained) and the Eaton Fire in and around Altadena (14,117 acres burned; 45% contained), still both active and requiring enormous efforts to overcome.
¶
None of the named venues for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles have been directly impacted by the fires and the one site that was threatened – Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades – has not been touched.
Golf Channel host Rex Hoggard said in a Monday interview:
“I spoke with a member today at Riviera and he said the club is fine. The golf course didn’t receive any damage and the clubhouse hasn’t received any damage. But everything around it is devastated. This member told me they are still in evacuation mode. People can’t get anywhere close to the golf course. Even if the golf course is fine and can logistically pull it off, I think it would be such a drain on the resources of that community I don’t know how you have it there.”
The Genesis Invitational has teamed with Fanatics to create a themed “LA Strong” T-shirt, available for $35 with proceeds going to the American Red Cross and the L.A. Fire Department Foundation.
The chatter now is about what to do with the tournament, scheduled for 13-16 February 2025. It could be canceled, postponed or moved and there are endless possibilities, and questions about resources available to support the event in case it does go forward.
Similar discussions have now arisen about the Academy Awards, scheduled for 2 March at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, which was not threatened by the fires at any point. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences issued a statement on Monday, including:
“The 97th Oscars will still be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live at 7 p.m.”
Amid a report from a British tabloid that discussions about cancellation are taking place, The Hollywood Reporter noted Wednesday:
“Any change to the Oscars ceremony itself would require significant consultation between the Academy and its longtime broadcasting partner ABC. And it is currently the prevailing sentiment within the Academy’s leadership that the show should go on — in a dignified manner that would help to raise funds for and celebrate fire relief efforts.”
The story also stated that four members of the Academy’s own Board had lost homes in the fires.
Observed: The fire devastation is real, brutal and catastrophic. And the sentiment to cancel everything and just mourn is completely understandable.
Is a professional golf tournament important next to the fire damage? No.
Are the Academy Awards important when Altadena – 20 miles northeast – lies in ruins? No.
BUT: What about the hundreds – if not thousands – of people whose lives will be impacted by the cancellation or movement of these events?
Beyond the pro golfers and the movie stars, there are the technicians, ushers, parking service staff, caterers, camera crews, telecommunications support staff and a lot more who work in and around these events – let’s not forget the hotels, restaurants and shops at which auxiliary events are held – and whose lives are impacted if they DO NOT happen.
Too often, these folks are forgotten.
Safety cannot be compromised, but there are lots of folks who were not impacted by the fires who will be impacted if the rest of Los Angeles shuts down.
This brings us to the clown posse – individuals, organizations and news media – who question whether the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games, along with other L.A.-area events coming more quickly, should be canceled.
No.
In the coming months and years, the Los Angeles area will host the NBA All-Star Game in 2026 (Intuit Dome), matches of the FIFA World Cup in 2026 (SoFi Stadium), Super Bowl LXI (2027 at SoFi Stadium) and the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
On Tuesday, Bank of America and U.S. Soccer announced a sponsorship which will include a first-ever “U.S. Soccer House” during the 2026 World Cup, reported to be located in the Los Angeles area.
Events are coming to Los Angeles, not leaving. And these events bring with them jobs, spending and visits to the area, all good for the local economy and the people in it.
The Paris 2024 organizing committee reported it had 4,200 staff members at the time of the Games, and the LA28 organizing committee has, at present, less than 200. A lot of jobs are coming, all related to the Games, not to mention operations by related organizations such as National Olympic Committees, International Federations, broadcasters, sponsors and others.
The vast majority of the people who will make these programs go are locals. The events they work at need to be supported too.
January 16 Issue
The high winds that caused so much fire destruction in the Los Angeles area have calmed and the National Weather Service ended its “Red Flag Warnings” for the area on the evening of 15 January (Wednesday).
The Palisades Fire was 22% contained – meaning a perimeter has been established so that the burn area will not expand – as of mid-day Thursday and the Eaton Fire in Altadena was 55% contained. Damage assessments are continuing, and the recovery planning is beginning.
No LA28 Olympic or Paralympic venues were damaged in these fires.
¶
The PGA Tour announced on Thursday:
“In collaboration with Genesis, The Riviera Country Club and @TGRLiveEvents, and out of respect for the unfolding situation, we have determined that the 2025 @TheGenesisInv will be played at an alternate location the week of Feb. 10-16.”
Riviera is the venue for golf for the 2028 Olympic Games and although not touched by the Palisades Fire, is in the Palisades area which was devastated by the fires.
¶
Of interest from an L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Authority report on special-event ridership from New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, including the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game:
“Rail ridership NYE/NYD was up over comparable recent Tuesdays and Sundays by 40%.”
About the Author
Rich Perelman has been a bid developer, planner, and/or operator of 20 multi-day, multi-venue events, including five Olympic and Olympic Winter Games in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He was the Vice President of Press Operations for the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad in Los Angeles and was awarded the AIPS Trophy for the best press facilities in the world in 1984. Through his Perelman, Pioneer & Co. consulting firm, he managed media operations for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the 2015 Special Olympics Summer Games in Los Angeles, and many other events.
In addition to nearly 100 books and event and statistical guides, he has written for the Los Angeles Times, Track & Field News, Universal Sports, and many other publications.
He has been a long-time member of the Association of Track and Field Statisticians (ATFS), the International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH), and the Track and Field Writers of America (TAFWA).