Hello Los Angeles County Service Planning Area District 2 — Kevin Clark here, with a real-time pulse check on LA28, the organizing committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.We’re three years out from the Games — and the billion-dollar question is being answered in part by the Bizfed Institute BuildUp LA Series – LA Major Events Business Readiness Summit held Wednesday, June 25th.
OUR BIG QUESTION IS : Are Black and Brown businesses — especially those in South L.A.’s SPA 6 — ready to tap into this Olympic-sized opportunity? Paul Krekorian as Executive Director of the Office of Major Events.
HOSPITALITY/ TOURISM/TRANSPORTATION
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN:
🏟️ LA28 Progress Snapshot
The International Olympic Committee just did a site visit and gave LA28 a solid thumbs up —
Here’s where things stand:
- ✅ Venue Master Plan? Finalized.
They’re using existing and temporary spaces to cut costs and avoid massive new construction. - ✅ Operational Planning? In Motion.
Coordinating with delivery partners to ensure seamless Games logistics. - ✅ Community Engagement? Promised.
LA28 says they’re focused on inclusion, culture, and community legacy. - ✅ Financial Plan? Holding Strong.
A projected $7.1 billion cost — covered by sponsorships, ticket sales, and hospitality.
💼 But What About the Small Guys?
Now here’s where it gets real.
SPA 6 — South L.A., where Black and Brown communities live, work, and build — is home to hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses that rarely get first dibs on citywide contracts. That’s the concern.
So, what’s being done — and what still needs to happen?
🔍 Opportunities Emerging
- LA28 is partnering with local municipalities to explore community business contracts.
- There’s growing talk of supplier diversity, inclusive hiring, and workforce pipelines.
- The Hollywood Park International Broadcast Center and LA Coliseum events mean nearby vendor opportunities should be on the table.
- New events like Skateboarding, BMX, and Esports could bring youth-focused, culturally relevant micro-economies.
🚧 But Here’s the Gap
Let’s be honest — most Black and Brown businesses in SPA 6 aren’t ready yet. Not because of lack of talent, but because of a lack of:
- ❌ Access to procurement info
- ❌ Bonding capacity or capital reserves
- ❌ Visibility in the LA28 vendor pipeline
- ❌ Digital readiness to respond to RFPs and contracts
We’re talking about barbershops, caterers, security firms, stage crews, set builders, translators, AV techs — all the folks who could be working the Games if systems were more inclusive.
🔑 What Needs to Happen NOW
To make sure this windfall doesn’t bypass our neighborhoods, here are three calls to action:
- Transparency
LA28 must publish a vendor access roadmap specifically for small/local businesses — and simplify the application process. - Pre-Apprenticeship & Certification Pipelines
Tie Olympic job access to programs that train and certify residents in SPA 6 — not just in sports, but in entertainment, logistics, and hospitality. - Real-Time Procurement Dashboard
Let us see who’s getting contracts. Let small business owners in the community see open bids and who won the last one.
🎯 Bottom Line
LA28 is on track — but are we?
There’s still time to ensure that our communities are in the mix — not on the sidelines.
Let’s organize, educate, and advocate — because when the Games come to town, they should be a win for all of Los Angeles.
And to the organizers:
Don’t talk about equity — show us the receipts.
Here are the key takeaways regarding the LA 2028 Olympics, focusing on climate and weather aspects based on the provided search results:
Climate and Weather Considerations:
- Risk of High Heat and Humidity: The games are scheduled for July and August, a time of year when Los Angeles can experience high temperatures, particularly at inland venues. High heat combined with humidity can impact athlete performance and health.
- Microclimates and Fluctuations: Los Angeles is a coastal city, meaning temperatures can vary significantly between venues, potentially impacting athletes on different days or even within the same day.
- Climate Change and Severe Weather Events: The increasing prevalence of severe weather events like wildfires and heatwaves is a concern. There’s an urgent need for proactive strategies to address these challenges.
- Focus on Mitigation: Heat mitigation strategies are crucial for athletes, coaches, and practitioners to protect athlete health and performance.
Sustainability and Resilience Efforts:
- Net-Zero Emissions Goal: The organizers aim for a net-zero emissions Olympics by focusing on strategies like clean energy infrastructure, electric transportation, and a resilient energy grid.
- Prioritizing Electrification: Significant efforts are underway to electrify transportation, including light-duty vehicles, public transportation, and goods movement.
- “Radical Reuse” Strategy: The games will utilize existing and temporary venues to minimize construction and its environmental impact.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Investments are being made in infrastructure upgrades to support the increased electricity demands from electrification and ensure grid resilience.
- Community Preparedness: There’s recognition that community and individual preparedness are essential in the face of climate challenges.
Other Key Takeaways:
- First Games with No New Permanent Venues: The LA28 Games are leveraging existing infrastructure to minimize construction and focus on a human legacy.
- Investment in Youth Sports: A significant investment is being made in youth sports development in Los Angeles.
- Updates to the Games Plan: The city council has approved updates to the venue plan, relocating some events and adding new sports like Flag Football and Lacrosse.
- Potential Financial Challenges: There are concerns about potential cost overruns, and the city could be responsible for some of the funding if the budget isn’t sufficient.
- Long-Term Impact on the City: The Olympics are expected to have a lasting impact on the region through projects like expanding the rail system, revamping the airport, and renovating the convention center.
- Emphasis on Inclusivity: The first Paralympics hosted by Los Angeles present an opportunity to advance inclusion for people with disabilities.
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