The Coliseum and Sofi Stadium have been chosen to hold the Ceremonies in 2028.
LA 28 Choose Coliseum for Historic Third Ceremony
by Philip Barker
Organisers have confirmed that the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has been chosen to host Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the 2028 Olympics and is set to become the first stadium to do so at three Olympic Games.
“The venues selected will highlight Los Angeles’s rich sporting history and cutting-edge future, showcasing the very best that LA has to offer on the world stage,” insisted LA 28 Chairman and President Casey Wasserman.
In an innovative move the Coliseum will host the Opening on July 14th, 2028 in a “dual venue celebration” alongside the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood some 13 kilometres away.
The Olympic Closing Ceremony is to be held in the Coliseum on July 30th, 2028.
The Paralympic Opening is set August 15th, 2028 in Inglewood before the Para athletes return to the Coliseum for the Closing Ceremony on August 27th, 2028 for their Closing Ceremony.
“These two extraordinary venues will create an unforgettable experience, welcoming fans from across the globe to an Olympic and Paralympic Games like never before and concluding what will go down as one of the most incredible Games in history,” exclaimed Wassermann.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who received the Olympic Handover flag in Paris last summer insisted that the announcement was “ a proud milestone as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will become the first venue in history to host three Olympic Games.”
“For over a century, the Coliseum has been a landmark host to some of the most iconic moments in all of sports history. That story continues in 2028 as our City and our region welcomes the world for what will be the greatest Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The Coliseum was built as a memorial to those who fell in the first world war and opened in 1923.
It proved a major factor in the decision to award the 1932 Games to Los Angeles.
The 1932 Olympics were opened by United States Vice President Charles Curtis. There was no Torch Relay but a Flame was ignited by a switch and burned above the Peristyle.
Flag bearers included Japan’s first Olympic gold medallist Mikio Oda who won triple jump gold in 1928 and British peer Lord Burghley, 400m hurdles gold medallist at the same Games.
When the Olympics returned to Los Angeles in 1984, the Opening Ceremony was masterminded by Oscar-winning director David Wolper.
Spectators unveiled flashcards representing all nations competing in the Games.
“A record score of 140 National Olympic Committees are taking part in these Games. We are proud to say that a great many of the finest youth in the world are present with us in this historic Coliseum,” said International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch.
“May I extend a warm welcome to all the athletes and officials. I am sure that they will compete and participate in the true Olympic spirit of cooperation, understanding and friendship without any political influence. Nevertheless, our thoughts also go to those athletes who have not been able to join us.”
The Soviets had instigated a boycott of the 1984 Games, ostensibly over security concerns, although many felt it was a tit for tat for the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games.
Those who did participate included China and also Romania who defied the Soviet call to boycott.
“Before you stands the finest group of young men and women ever to assemble in the history of sport. They represent the best that this world has to offer,” insisted Los Angeles Organising Committee President Peter Ueberroth.
The Ceremony had been launched by a rocket man with a jetpack as the prelude to a pageant featuring the story of the United States in music and dance.
The highlight was 84 pianists clad in blue who played Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” on grand pianos beneath the Peristyle.
The Games were opened by Ronald Reagan, the first sitting United States President to do so.
The Flame was born into the stadium by Gina Hemphill, granddaughter of Jesse Owens. She had also carried the Torch in New York at the very start of the Relay across America 84 days before.
Hemphill passed the Flame to Rafer Johnson who lit a taper to convey the Flame through giant Olympic rings to burn in a tower. Specially written music by Philip Glass was performed to accompany the moment.
Organisers breathed a sigh of relief. Johnson had injured himself in rehearsal for the moment.
Standing by was Bruce Jenner (now known as Caitlyn), who wore running gear under a suit. As the 1976 decathlon gold medallist Jenner had been chosen to help troop the Olympic Flag.
At the Closing Ceremony, the Ceremonial Olympic Flag was passed to 1988 hosts Seoul. This represented a change in Olympic regulations. Previously the host city had taken custody of the Flag for the four years after their Games.
There were performances from the Dance Theater of Harlem and the Seoul City Dance Troupe.
“More people around the world watched your struggles and efforts than any event in the history of mankind,” said Ueberroth.
“To all you athletes our hope for the future is that all of you that have competed here will maintain all your new friendships,and as your true victory lap of these Olympic Games, that you will go forth as ambassadors of peace and goodwill. If we have somehow brought this world a little bit closer, then we have indeed successfully staged an Olympic Games and in a small way perhaps we have secured a better future for all the children of the world.”
As the Flame died, the voice of actor Richard Basehart was heard speaking the words of Pindar.
“Creatures of a Day, man is merely a shadow, but when god given glory comes upon him in victory, a bright light shines upon us and our life is sweet.
“When the end comes the loss of flame brings darkness, but his glory is bright and forever, so bright so brief, the Games are over, now the memories begin.”
As the stadium darkened the music of “Also sprach Zarathustra” by Richard Strauss, welcomed a “spaceship.”
An “alien” visitor addressed the crowd.
“I have come a long way but I like what I have seen, the family of man united in the belief of the limitless possibilities of human achievement.
“For almost 100 years, you have celebrated the best of what humanity has to offer, you call it the Olympic Games, and for that and for the cities which have kept the Olympic ideal alive, I salute you!”
Afterwards, there was perhaps the longest firework display ever seen at the Olympics; Lionel Richie took to the stage with “All Night Long.”
It was an appropriate finale for one of the longest farewells to a Games.
Even though they were over 40 years ago, the Ceremonies in Los Angeles remain fixed in the memory.
The gauntlet has been thrown down to the production teams in 2028.
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