The region’s geography and mentality have been permanently altered by the destruction caused by the devastating wildfires that tore across parts of Los Angeles.
Massive housing and infrastructure reconstruction will take place in the lead-up to the city hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, as well as World Cup matches in 2026 and a Super Bowl in 2027. After the promoters in Los Angeles marketed the Games as a no-build event, that seems brutally ironic.
The still-burning flames that ripped through Altadena, an unincorporated neighborhood above Pasadena in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, and Pacific Palisades on the city’s westside have not destroyed any Olympic facilities.
The Riviera Country Club, which will host Olympic golf, was within the evacuation zone when the Palisades fire approached. Just outside the zone was UCLA, which will house players.
“While our focus remains on healing and rebuilding, there is no reason to believe that the fires will adversely impact or delay preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are already well underway,” Paul Kerkorian, executive director of the city’s new Office of Major Events, stated.
Following the start of the fires on January 7, games in the NFL, NBA, and college basketball were moved or postponed.
The two large flames have not been put out, and thousands of people are still being evacuated.
“We are in full solidarity with the citizens of Los Angeles and full of admiration for the tireless work of the firefighters and the security forces,” the International Olympic Committee stated. “Currently the full focus must be on the fight against the fires and the protection of the people and property.”
How the 2028 Olympic Games were awarded to Los Angeles?
In 2017, Los Angeles won the 2028 Olympics for the third time. The IOC praised the bid’s use of temporary and existing venues instead of building new stadiums and sports facilities especially for the Games, as well as its dedication to sustainability and financial responsibility.
However, it was still anticipated that the Games will cost about $6.9 billion for infrastructure improvements, remodeled facilities, and better transportation, all of which would benefit locals long after the Olympic flame had gone out.
The city’s airport is being renovated, while the downtown convention center and Metro transit system are being expanded.
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When those developments were approved, no one anticipated a major catastrophe in the second-largest city in the country.
The COVID-19 outbreak forced Tokyo to postpone the 2020 Summer Olympics to 2021, and they were hosted without any fans present.
With severe pandemic restrictions and a cap on the number of spectators permitted, Beijing proceeded with the 2022 Winter Olympics.
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Real or imaginary disasters can still strike Los Angeles. Earthquakes, mudslides, flooding, drought, unrest, and wildfires have all affected the country’s most populated county, which is home to around 10 million people. Hollywood has often imagined mass annihilation on screen.
More than 20 people have been killed by the current wildfires, which have also damaged more than 12,000 buildings and contaminated the air quality in the vast area, all of which have an impact on public health.
