the damage caused deadly wildfire Parts of Los Angeles were ravaged, leaving an indelible mark on the region's landscape Spirit.
Go to host city 2028 summer olympics In addition to the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Super Bowl, the Olympic and Paralympic Games will also coincide with a massive rebuilding of housing and infrastructure. This seems cruelly ironic after Los Angeles organizers sold the Games as a non-construction event.
The fire, which is still burning, has destroyed Pacific Palisades on the city's west side and Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, but none Olympic venues were damaged by fires that are still burning.
this fence The fire was close to Riviera Country Club, which will host the Olympic golf course, and was within an evacuation zone. UCLA, which will house the athletes, is just outside the zone.
Paul Kerkorian, executive director of the city's new office, said: "While our focus remains on recovery and reconstruction, there is no reason to believe that the fires will adversely impact preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games or postponement, these preparations are already well underway" for the major event, it said in a statement.
In the days after the Jan. 7 fire, the NFL, NBA and college basketball teams all moved games or postponed games.
Neither fire is under control and thousands of people are still being evacuated.
"We stand in full solidarity with the citizens of Los Angeles and express our admiration for the tireless efforts of the firefighters and security forces," the IOC said in a statement. "For now, the focus must be on extinguishing the fire and protecting people and property."
Los Angeles was awarded the right to host the 2028 Olympics for a third time in 2017, with the IOC praising the organizers' bid to utilize existing and temporary venues rather than building new stadiums and sports facilities specifically for the Games, as well as for its commitment to sustainable development and Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility.
However, the Games are still expected to cost about $6.9 billion on investments such as upgrading transportation, renovating facilities and improving urban infrastructure, with the aim of benefiting residents long after the Olympic flame is extinguished. Three major projects include revamping the city's airport, expanding the metro transit system and the downtown convention center.
When these projects were approved, no one expected a massive disaster in the nation's second-largest city.
"What's happened in the last few Olympics has completely changed what the Olympics are," said Dr. Matthew Brown, a professor of political science at the University of Utah who has written extensively about the Games.
Tokyo postpones 2020 Summer Olympics Until 2021, games were held without fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beijing held the 2022 Winter Olympics as scheduled under strict epidemic restrictions and limited the number of spectators.
"Things like wildfires can really change the priorities of many cities in the region and may even change the priorities of state and federal governments and what they fund and when," Brown said.
LA28 president and president Casey Wasserman met with President-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Wednesday night to bolster support.
“As a lifelong Angeleno, I sympathize with President-elect Trump’s continued support of Los Angeles at a time of devastation in our region,” Wasserman said in a statement.
Trump is a sports fan and was in his first term when Los Angeles won the Olympics.
"We also talked about the 2028 Olympics, and we thank him for his strong commitment to LA28 and his leadership in bringing the Summer Olympics back to the United States for the first time in over 30 years. We look forward to working with him and his team." Wasserman said: “We hope the government can deliver a safe, successful Olympics that will make our country proud. "
Los Angeles is not immune to disaster—real or imagined. Wildfires, earthquakes, mudslides, floods, droughts and riots have left their mark on the nation's most populous county, home to nearly 10 million people. On the silver screen, Hollywood dreams of weapons of mass destruction.
The ongoing wildfires have killed more than 20 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and polluted the region's air quality, affecting public health.
"The reality is that this will put a huge strain on the supply of resources for the city of Los Angeles, surrounding cities and the state of California," Brown said.
"Then what happens is, those resources have to come from somewhere, which means other things aren't going to have the resources."
Brown noted that while the Games are largely funded by local organizing committees, those held in the United States rely heavily on state and local governments for police, fire, first responders and traffic control.
“These are local resources,” he said. "They will not be controlled by the local organizing committee."
It's unclear how the economic recovery will affect Los Angeles' notorious traffic jams. Mayor Karen Bass A "car-free" Olympics has been promised, but detailed transport plans have yet to be announced for the games, which are expected to attract thousands of people every day.
The region's ability to recover will be tested as it prepares to host the World Cup, Super Bowl and 17-day Olympics within three years, followed by the Paralympics.
“We have seen our partners at all levels of government come together to respond to this devastating tragedy,” Kerkorian said. “With this continued spirit of collaboration, we have no doubt that Los Angeles will be ready to handle this devastating tragedy.” The FIFA World Cup next year and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.”
Given its proximity to Hollywood, few would be surprised to see the city create a comeback story worthy of the big screen.
“The great thing about Los Angeles is there’s always another place to do whatever you want to do,” Brown said. "That gives it something that no other city can achieve."