LA28 Chief Highlights World Cup as Key Learning Opportunity for Los Angeles Olympics

Los Angeles is set to gain valuable experience from hosting World Cup matches, which LA28 chief executive Reynold Hoover sees as a crucial stepping stone for the city’s preparations to host the Olympic Games in 2028. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will stage eight World Cup games, beginning with the United States’ opening fixture against Paraguay on June 12.

Hoover emphasized that while the logistical, security, and political challenges of the World Cup differ from those of the Olympics, the event offers significant learning opportunities for the LA28 organizing committee.

World Cup Preparations

The World Cup will feature five group stage matches, two Round of 32 games, and one quarter-final at SoFi Stadium. Hoover stated that the LA28 team is closely observing the event’s operations, particularly in areas such as transportation and spectator movement.

“The World Cup is a great opportunity for the city to again shine. It is a tremendous opportunity for all of us and we are taking some great lessons learned,” Hoover said during a press conference in Los Angeles following a visit by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission.

He added, “We are looking at their transportation and how they are moving fans and spectators around. We are looking at security and security planning, but recognise that World Cup is an entirely different model and size, scope and scale than from what we are putting on.”

Adapting Lessons for the Olympics

Hoover explained that the lessons learned from the World Cup will need to be adapted to fit the unique requirements of the Olympic Games. “So we take that – we have to kind of kind of size up and scale what lessons we are learning from them, but we are in close co-ordination with them all the time, and we are looking forward to the World Cup coming.”

The LA28 organizing committee is working in coordination with World Cup organizers to ensure a seamless transition and application of best practices for the 2028 Games.

Visa and Global Diplomacy

LA28 chair Casey Wasserman addressed concerns about global diplomatic tensions and their potential impact on the Olympics. He expressed confidence that the Games will be inclusive, welcoming athletes and delegations from all nations.

“We are preparing to host every country on Earth, and so our mindset around visas has been deeply engaged with both (US) Homeland Security and the (US) State Department, because of the complexity of that,” Wasserman stated.

He highlighted that planning for potential visa complexities, especially for countries with which the U.S. lacks diplomatic relations, has been a priority since 2017. This includes preparing for the participation of countries like Iran and North Korea, and potentially Russia and Belarus.

“So visas for countries where we don’t have diplomatic relations has been part of our gameplan since 2017. We have been deeply engaged with the State Department to be ahead of that. I feel incredibly confident that we will deliver against that for all of the cohorts from all those countries, not just athletes, but officials, fans, press and political figures, so it is a different perspective for us, and something that we have been planning for for a long time.”

Olympic Progress and Engagement

Nicole Hoevertsz, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for LA28, conveyed optimism about the progress being made towards the 2028 Games. She noted that approximately four million tickets have already been sold, and around 300,000 people have expressed interest in volunteering.

“We look at what has been achieved, and we use that progress to shape what still lies ahead,” said Hoevertsz, a former synchronized swimmer who competed in the 1984 LA Olympics. “The progress that we have seen so far gives us every confidence that the next two years will put us on course for another memorable edition of the Olympic Games.”

The ongoing World Cup in Los Angeles provides a tangible, real-world testbed for many of the operational strategies that will be crucial for the success of the 2028 Olympic Games. From managing large crowds and complex transportation networks to ensuring robust security measures and accommodating international visitors, the lessons learned from this major international football tournament will be invaluable for the LA28 team as they finalize their plans. The focus on adapting these lessons, rather than simply replicating them, underscores a strategic approach to ensuring the Olympics are a uniquely successful and inclusive event for Los Angeles and the world.

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| Aspect | Detail |
|—|—|
| Event | World Cup matches hosted in Los Angeles |
| Venue | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Key Figure | Reynold Hoover, LA28 Chief Executive |
| Significance | Learning opportunity for LA28 Olympic preparations |

Fuente: Yahoo Sports, https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/la28-chief-los-angeles-learn-051028821.html

Datos clave