Hollywood factor will help Los Angeles deliver best Games ever, says LA28 CEO

PARIS – Los Angeles cannot compete with the iconic landmarks of the Paris Olympics, but LA28 organisers are confident the Hollywood factor and their city’s identity will help them raise the bar when they host the global event.

The recently concluded Paris Games were a hit with fans, athletes, sponsors and broadcasters and LA28 chief executive officer Reynold Hoover also praised the French organisers for an “incredible Games”.

Hoover, who will take charge of the next summer Games in four years, admitted that there are areas where the West Coast city could not compete with the City of Light, but said it has plenty to offer nonetheless.

“Paris is an amazing venue. Every single one of the venues in Paris is iconic and you cannot compete against playing beach volleyball or blind football in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower,” he said on Sept 6.

“But every city has a personality, has something different to offer and we think that (in) LA we have our own iconic sporting venues – we’ve got the Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, we’ve got amazing world-class athletic competition venues.

“Also we have diversity, culture, sport, entertainment, storytelling and that’s what you’re going to see in LA.”

Paris 2024 set a high bar with venues close to each other, easy transportation and competitions in or near stunning monuments in the heart of the city.

Hoover, however, believes LA can do better. After all, the Americans have got Hollywood, which has already played a part in the 1932 and 1984 Olympics.

“Hollywood is magic. When you think of LA and you think of LA28 or you think of LA 1984 or even LA 1932, Hollywood played a role in delivering the Games to the world and each one of them had legacies that they gave to the movement,” the 63-year-old added.

“We will raise the bar just as Paris raised the bar for us. We will raise the bar for Brisbane in 2032.”

While Hoover remained tight-lipped about LA's opening ceremony plans after Paris delivered a brilliant show along the Seine river, he recalled how LA stunned the world 40 years ago.

“Look at 1984, they had rocket man, so who knows maybe we’ll bring back rocket man,” he said with a smile.

At the 1984 opening ceremony at the LA Memorial Coliseum, William Suitor, one of the first to master the rocket belt – a large rocket pack powered by hydrogen peroxide that allows pilots to make short solo flights – stunned viewers and spectators as he flew across the Olympic stadium wearing the futuristic device.

Meanwhile, in a city that is much larger than Paris and with venues that will be more spread out, LA will have to overcome challenges around transport.

“We’re starting that now,” said Hoover.

“We think there are ways to be more efficient and effective in how we’re transporting people to and from the Games, and how we transport our athletes to and from the Games.” REUTERS