Mayor Karen Bass, Sen. Alex Padilla and LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman will be among the members of a presidential delegation visiting Paris for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the White House announced Monday.
Bass is expected to travel with three of four presidential delegations traveling to the games, and return after each trip, according to her office. Leaders from the civic and private sectors will also be joining state and federal leaders during the trips with the aim of establishing business and diplomatic connections ahead of the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.
“We must continue our urgent work ensuring that Angelenos benefit from the preparation for the games, as well as in the decades following,” Bass said in a statement. “Together, we will showcase Los Angeles — not just the popular tourist destinations, but each of our beautiful neighborhoods and communities. Together, we will leverage the games to help local small businesses, create local jobs and create lasting environmental and transportation improvements throughout Los Angeles.”
Bass will travel with first lady Jill Biden — as part of the first presidential delegation — from Thursday to Saturday. The group will also include Padilla, D-California; Wasserman; Denise Campbell Bauer, U.S. Ambassador to the French Republic and Principality of Monaco; Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware; Dawn Staley, head women’s basketball coach of the University of South Carolina, and three-time Olympic gold medalist; and Brian Boitano, a three-time figure skating Olympian and gold medalist.
Bass is expected to attend the opening ceremony with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, as well meet with business leaders and other stakeholders to establish opportunities in Los Angeles. The LA 2028 Games will take place across several cities, including Inglewood, Long Beach, Carson, Temecula, and others.
Bass will also visit the Team USA High Performance Training Center, meet with Team USA athletes at the Team USA House and attend sports competitions. During her visit, Bass and her staff will collect information about the stadiums in Paris and compare them to those in Los Angeles that will serve as Olympic venues.
The mayor will then travel from Aug. 7-12 with second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, who will lead a second group to the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
That group will consist of Bauer, Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-California, and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, as well as Chaunté Lowe, a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, and a four-time track and field Olympian; and Briana Scurry, a two-time gold medal winner in women’s soccer.
“As the mayor of Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mayor Bass has an official role against Paris Mayor Hidalgo in the closing ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she will receive the official Olympic flag to Los Angeles,” Bass’ office said in a statement.
During that visit, Bass will meet with the mayors of Saint-Ouen and Saint-Denis, which are located outside of Paris, and where competitions are taking place and athletes are being housed.
The meetings will serve as follow ups from when Bass last visited Paris in March, when she met with the mayors and toured the Athletes’ Village.
Following the 2028 Olympic Games, Bass will be back in Paris from Sept. 6-8, preparing for Los Angeles’ first-ever Paralympic Games. Bass will meet with Paralympic athletes alongside members of LA28, L.A. City Council, and Metro leadership. The mayor will present a medal, visit the International Broadcast Center, and participate in the Paralympic Olympic closing ceremony, among other events.
According to the White House, two other presidential delegations attending the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games will be announced at a later date.