Los Angles: The Olympics has long brought with it the promise of economic prosperity and workforce, tourism, business and investment opportunities to its host cities.
But as wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles – levelling some 12,000 structures, destroying 35,000 acres of land and displacing almost 200,000 people and counting – experts have warned the city’s ability to host the 2028 Games is under threat, turning a “big-ticket attraction” into an “uninsurable mega-event”.
California Governor Gavin Newsom insisted the city would be ready despite the tragedy, according to News.com.au report on Monday.
“My humble position, and it’s not just being naively optimistic, that only reinforces the imperative of moving quickly, doing it in the spirit of collaboration and co-operation,” Governor Newsom told NBC News.
Others are less convinced – among them conservative commentator, Charlie Kirk, who has called for the Games to be cancelled.
“If you can’t fill a fire hydrant, you aren’t qualified to host the Olympics,” he wrote on X.
“Move them to Dallas, or Miami, so the world’s athletes can compete in a place capable of actually safely building and running something.”
As required by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), host cities must agree to provide appropriate infrastructure – among them event venues, training and housing facilities for athletes, and accommodation for fans.
Transportation is also needed to support the droves of people travelling throughout the area.
The private group organising the 2028 Games, LA28, has said it intends for every venue to either be a temporary one or already exist, including relying on some structures used in 1984, the last time the city hosted the event.
It’s a plan that could now be in jeopardy as the fires encroach on said venues. The ongoing Palisades Fire has pushed towards the Riviera Golf Club, one proposed Olympic site that now lies within an evacuation zone.
The grounds of The University of California (UCLA), the planned location for the Olympic Village, is also near the current Palisades fire front, while venues like SoFi Stadium and Carson Stadium are within a 30km radius.
