In Los Angeles, a momentous gathering took place beneath the iconic peristyle of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where over 300 Olympic and Paralympic athletes assembled to celebrate the impending start of ticket registrations for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. Distinguished sportspersons such as Nadia Comaneci, Apolo Ohno, Bart Conner, and Cullen Jones united, representing a wide spectrum of Olympic competitions dating back to 1960.
Among them, Janet Evans, an Olympic gold medalist swimmer and current chief athlete officer for LA28, led a brief countdown culminating in the ignition of the Olympic Cauldron beneath the clear winter sky. Evans emphasized the organizing committee's dedication to an athlete-centric Games experience, affirming that athlete involvement is foundational to their strategic planning.
For Apolo Ohno, the most lauded U.S. Winter Olympian with eight medals from short track speedskating events, the assembly resembled a homecoming. He recounted reconnecting with many friends from the Olympic training community, some of whom he had not seen in over a decade.
Prior to the ceremonial cauldron lighting, the athletes engaged with the LA28 officials, imparting valuable feedback aimed at enhancing the overall athlete experience. Cullen Jones, a retired swimmer and recent associate director of athlete marketing for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, expressed enthusiasm regarding the organization’s integration of athlete input into operational aspects of the Games.
Bart Conner, a three-time Olympic gold medalist gymnast whose career culminated at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, highlighted the advantage of preexisting infrastructure in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City, the latter hosting softball and canoe slalom events. He noted the resultant focus could remain on optimizing conditions for competitors. Conner also observed the unprecedented inclusion of athlete voices within the leadership hierarchy of the LA28 organizing committee, surpassing the representation seen within the International Olympic Committee.
Meanwhile, Nadia Comaneci, renowned for securing the first perfect 10.0 in Olympic history during the 1976 Montreal Games, posed for photographers in proximity to the peristyle. Her ongoing connection to the Olympic community was symbolized by her upcoming 30th wedding anniversary with fellow Olympian Bart Conner in April.
Fans eager to attend the 2028 Games are invited to commence registration at 10 a.m. EST on Wednesday through the official portal at Tickets.LA28.org. This initial registration does not guarantee ticket purchase but assigns randomized time slots for future ticket procurement windows starting in April. The sales will encompass individual tickets, as well as hospitality and travel-inclusive packages slated for release later within the year.