SACRAMENTO – Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) chaired the first informational hearing for the Senate’s Special Committee on International Sporting Events: Olympics, Paralympics, and World Cup Soccer. The hearing provided an overview of the challenges and opportunities ahead as Los Angeles prepares to host the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and included testimony from Ryan Becker, Senior VP of Communications and Strategy for Visit California; Fesia Davenport, CEO for the County of Los Angeles; Reynold Hoover, CEO for LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and Paul Krekorian, Executive Director of Major Events for the City of Los Angeles.

“Los Angeles is gearing up to welcome the world with the extraordinary celebration of international unity and friendly competition that the Olympic and Paralympic Games offer,” said Senator Allen. “There are many moving pieces to sort through over the next three years of planning and preparation, including logistics related to transportation, security, hospitality, and workforce readiness; our committee will be focusing on greater collaboration, coherence, and cooperation between the various parties and the state, while providing support, input, and oversight. I'm grateful to the leaders who came up to Sacramento and whose testimony and discussion led to a meaningful, thoughtful, and engaging hearing."

2028 will mark the third time the city of Los Angeles hosts the Summer Olympics, joining Paris and London as the only other cities to host the Games on three separate occasions. Current plans include the use of 40 venues across the Los Angeles region; similar to the two previous times Los Angeles hosted in 1932 and 1984, LA28 is planning to use existing or already-planned venues in order to minimize the need for new construction and major capital investments.

Workforce and economic development have been two primary points of focus through the initial organizing phases. Recent estimates show the Games could generate up to $18 billion in economic output, and provide over $700 million for state and local tax revenues. LA28 is also expected to create nearly 100,000 jobs across different industries, including hospitality, construction, security, and transportation. Importantly, recent reports have highlighted the ability of the private, nonprofit LA28 Organizing Committee to be able to cover the costs of hosting without requiring a taxpayer backstop.

As we continue approaching the summer of 2028, continued collaboration between the different supporting entities – including the LA28 Organizing Committee, the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles, and the State of California – will be imperative. Planning for an event of this scale will require ongoing review to ensure we are delivering a successful and safe event for the athletes, staff, attendees, and viewers from around the world.

“This first hearing sets the stage for a deeper look at the logistical, financial, and intergovernmental challenges ahead,” said Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Vice-Chair of the Special Committee. “As we move forward, our goal is to help these events deliver real, lasting benefits to our communities—and we’ll be guided by the principles that make Los Angeles and California global leaders in diversity, inclusion, and thoughtful governance.”