Fires in Los Angeles: the 2028 Olympic Games in the spotlight?

Published by Audrey de Sortiraparis · Photos by Graziella de Sortiraparis · Published on January 15, 2025 at 08:33 p.m.
The 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles are already under pressure. As devastating fires ravage California, killing 24 people, the question remains: will the city be ready in time? Between threatened sites and radical solutions, the future of the Olympics is written in uncertainty ...

Los Angeles is in flames. Over the past week, the worst fires in the Californian city's history have claimed 24 lives and caused massive destruction. This tragedy raises a burning question: will the City of Angels be ready for the 2028 Olympic Games?

Olympic venues under pressure

Scheduled to run from July 14 to July 30, 2028, the global event coincides with a high-risk period for forest fires, a problem exacerbated by global warming. Two of the Olympic venues, including the athletes' village, are located close to burnt-out areas. Although no infrastructure has yet been affected, concerns are growing.

Governor Gavin Newsom, determined, calls for cooperation:"It only reinforces the need to act quickly in a spirit of collaboration," according to franceinfo. But other voices, like that of Simon Chadwick, professor of sports economics and geopolitics at Skema Paris, warn of the potential impact of future climate disasters on the Games.

Rethinking the event?

The solutions considered range from a minimalist overhaul of the original event to an outright withdrawal. According to Mael Besson, a former expert in ecological transition at the French Ministry of Sport, all scenarios must be considered: "At the Tokyo Games, we couldn't imagine holding the Olympics without a public, and the Australian Open was affected by the fires", according to information from franceinfo.

Even more radical, Mark Dyerson, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, suggests relocating to Paris, where the infrastructure is ready and proven. An idea which, although "unfortunate", could be considered by the IOC (Olympic Games Organizing Committee), according to his comments in the New York Post.

A colossal challenge

Between reconstruction and organization, Los Angeles has its work cut out for it. Insurance costs could soar, reminiscent of the costly postponement of the Tokyo Olympics. One thing is certain: the next few years will be decisive for the future of the 2028 Games.

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