Can Los Angeles Still Host the 2028 Olympics? 

When Los Angeles won the bid to host the 2028 Olympics, it was a moment of triumph and a renewed sense of pride. After all, the city did host the Olympics twice in the past—in 1932 and 1984. But in the wake of the devastating wildfires, can Los Angeles still host the 2028 Olympics? Will the city be ready in time to rebuild and welcome a massive international event?  Los Angeles’ Legacy of Hosting the Olympics  As reported by the Los Angeles Daily News, hosting the 1932 Olympic Games played a huge role in turning L.A. into a world-class city according to Daniel Durbin, director of the Institute of Sports, Media and Society at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.  In fact, it was during this Olympics that city officials changed 10th Street to “Olympic Boulevard,” and many cities followed suit with their own Olympic Village for guest athletes.  The 1984 Summer Olympics Games were a financial success without spending the taxpayer's money by letting a non-governmental organizing committee lead the preparations. It might have also saved the Summer Olympics because previous ones have been plagued by controversies, including the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches in Munich in 1972, which was the inspiration for the Golden Globe-nominated movie September 5.  The Challenges Facing the L.A. 2028 Olympics  According to CBS News, no Olympic venues have been affected by ongoing L.A. wildfires that leveled Palisades and Altadena, including several celebrity homes, schools, businesses and communities.   However, it might still be too much for the city to even think about hosting an event of that scale, not to mention the city is also the host of the World Cup matches in 2026 and a Super Bowl in 2027.  Andrew Zimbalist, a sports economist and professor at Smith College said, “As horrific as the fires have been on a human scale, and also on a physical scale so far, I don't think there's anything there at all for LA28 to worry about”; LA28 is the Olympics committee in charge of preparing for the Olympics.  Zev Yaroslasky agreed with him. Yaroslasky, who’s been part of the L.A. city and county governments for four decades, mentioned, “As long as the Olympic [organizing] committee runs their Games in a cost-neutral or profitable way, [the fires] should not be a barrier to holding the Olympic Games,” per Yahoo! Sports.  Are The Opportunities Worth the Risks?  The question of whether Los Angeles can still host the 2028 Olympics is a complex one. On the one hand, the city already has the infrastructure, a history of successfully hosting the Games, and a chance to make the Games a revenue producer for the city.   On the other hand, the risks are considerable. Sure, the city will not be spending money on building venues, but there are still financial and logistical concerns that will need to be addressed. If LA fails to make a profit from the Games, the city might not be able to get a return on its investment. Plus, failing to produce a world-class Summer Olympics could damage the city's reputation and undo the progress made since the 1984 Games.  Will L.A. be ready? It’s too early to tell. But with the city’s history of resilience and innovation, there’s hope that it will be.