Mayor Karen Bass traveled Thursday to Paris on Air Force 2 with first lady Jill Biden as part of an official presidential delegation for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games to prepare for the events when they come to the Southland in 2028.
Upon arrival late Thursday morning, Bass and members of her delegation were briefed on their activities. The group joined U.S. Ambassador to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco Denise Campbell Bauer at her residence to welcome Team USA family members to France.
“Our momentum is strong as we 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. “As we approach the 2024 Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony, we continue to learn about strategies and solutions from Parisian and Regional Officials that we can leverage back home in Los Angeles to help local small businesses, create local jobs and make lasting environmental and transportation improvements throughout our region.”
The delegation — consisting of Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware; Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina women’s basketball head coach, and three-time Olympic gold medalist; and Brian Boitano, a three-time figure skating Olympian and gold medalist — also visited the Team USA High Performance Training Center, where they met with Team USA rugby and track athletes and coaches and leadership of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
The mayor will be in Paris through Sunday for the opening ceremonies, her office said. 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 city of Los Angeles was also represented at a sustainability summit as well, hosted by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo alongside more than 40 mayors and climate leaders from across the globe to share ideas and solutions for climate action.
“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 issued Monday. “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 is expected to travel to Paris two additional times, and return to the city after each visit has concluded, according to her office.
From Aug. 7-12, Bass will travel to Paris to meet with mayors of Saint-Ouen and Saint-Denis, where competitions are taking place and athletes are being housed. She will be back in Paris from Sept. 6-8 for the Paralympic Games, and participate in several activities.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson announced Thursday morning that he too will lead a delegation of Long Beach leaders to Paris for similar reasons.
Richardson, Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero and Deputy City Manager Tyler Bonanno-Curley will attend the Olympic Games from Aug. 8-12. A separate group — consisting of mayoral staff and members of the Office of Special Events and Filming, among others — will also travel to Paris for the Paralympics from Sept. 2-7.
“During this visit, we will meet Olympic organizers and gain valuable insights and best practices to deliver safe, successful and memorable sporting events for the 2028 Games,” Richardson said in a statement. “We are grateful to the city of Paris for their hospitality, and we look forward to learning from them.”
Long Beach is set to host seven sporting events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The city will host artistic swimming and para swimming competitions. In addition, handball events will take place at the Long Beach Arena, canoe-spring and rowing events at Marine Stadium and sailing will be held in the water along the Belmont Shore.
Water polo competitions are expected to occur at a temporary aquatics center at the Convention Center lot, and marathon swimming and triathlon competitions will be held at the Waterfront along Alamitos Beach, according to LA28, the organizing committee of the games.
LA28 is expected to confirm more sporting events in the months ahead.
The city of Long Beach previously hosted archery, fencing, sailing and volleyball at the 1984 Games. Long Beach’s Marine Stadium was also used for rowing events during the 1932 Games.