LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles was seen waving the official Olympic flag as she disembarked from a plane, greeted by cheers from numerous organizers involved with LA 28, marking the beginning of the next chapter in their preparations.

Los Angeles is officially counting down to 2028.

“We’re eager to kick things off,” LA 28’s CEO Reynold Hoover declared to YSL News Sports.

Celebrations took place inside a hangar at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, where Bass and several Olympians returned home after participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Olympic flag made its symbolic journey to Los Angeles during the Paris closing ceremonies, which featured performances by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, and Snoop Dogg in Long Beach.

This time, however, it was the real flag that arrived aboard a special Delta aircraft adorned with LA 2028 logos. Joining Bass were LA 28 chair Casey Wasserman, Olympic diver Delaney Schnell, and skateboarder Tate Carew. The flag will remain at Los Angeles City Hall until the Games commence in four years, serving as a constant reminder of the high expectations for a thrilling and successful XXXIV Olympiad.

“It’s officially on,” Bass stated.

Bass and other LA 28 organizers spent some time in Paris recently, learning from the ongoing event to see how they could apply those insights to the upcoming Olympics in Southern California. The initial impression of the 2024 Summer Games was that it was a significant success, showcasing the best of Paris and France, raising the bar for the next event.

Casey Wasserman, president of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, mentioned while in Paris that their aim is not to merely outshine Paris but to authentically represent Los Angeles in its distinct way. However, he acknowledged that there are elements from this year’s Games that they hope to incorporate in 2028. One key part of the next phase of planning is gathering feedback from athletes and participants to learn what was effective and what could be improved.

“We’ll embrace the good and refine the bad,” stated Janet Evans, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming and member of the organizing committee. “While Paris was remarkable, there are lessons to be absorbed and aspects we can innovate specifically for Los Angeles.”

Is it possible for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to be a car-free event?

Many residents of Los Angeles may have reacted with surprise when Bass announced the ambition for the 2028 Olympics to be car-free. She emphasized this point while addressing reporters, highlighting that public transportation would be strongly encouraged. For many, this ambition might seem as implausible as suggesting the Seine River would be completely safe for competition.

Despite sounding far-fetched, it is not outside the realm of possibility. During the 1984 Summer Games, Los Angeles managed to keep its notoriously congested freeways and streets clear of traffic. Inglewood mayor James Butts, who served as a police officer back then, recalls that the fears of traffic chaos kept many people off the roads. He speculated that the same could happen again as people are drawn to the events.

“We couldn’t hope to be that fortunate, but if it is, everyone will be pleased,” he remarked.

The objective for the 2028 Olympics is to have public transport as the sole means of traveling to events spread across Inglewood, Los Angeles, and Long Beach. This ambitious goal seems challenging considering the city’s public transport system is widely regarded as lacking.

Hoover noted that organizers studied the public transport system in Paris, aiming to replicate its successes.

“I believe it’s achievable,” Hoover asserted. “By 2028, our transportation infrastructure will be improved. The metro system is advancing, and I am very optimistic that we can achieve this goal.”

Transportation is just one of the many avenues through which Los Angeles hopes to match the success of Paris. Hoover remarked that Paris has indeed set a high standard for future Olympic events, invigorating enthusiasm around the games. Los Angeles not only aspires to achieve what Paris delivered but also aims to uphold the spirit of the Olympics.

“We feel a strong sense of pressure,” Bass acknowledged. “We must ensure our city and region are fully prepared to make the most of what is coming our way.”