Los Angeles will welcome the world for the 2028 Summer Olympics, and one city leader says LA’s transit, security, and small businesses will be ready for the influx of visitors.
NBC Los Angeles spoke with Paul Krekorian, executive director of LA’s Office of Major Events, from Italy during the Milan Cortina Olympics. The former city councilman is now the main liaison between the city and LA28, and he discussed Los Angeles’ preparations.
“It’s an immense job to ensure that the second-largest city in America is prepared to welcome the largest event in the world,” Krekorian told NBCLA’s Lynette Romero.
Krekorian said part of that welcome will be showcasing the diversity that is already part of Los Angeles and embracing fans from other countries and cultures. He said he anticipates a “world’s fair” type of atmosphere for LA28.
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Krekorian talks LA28 transit
Olympic fans relied heavily on Milan’s efficient metro system at the 2026 Winter Olympics. When asked how LA would get so many people to the more than 40 Olympic venues at LA28, Krekorian said public transit would play a major role. The LA28 venue are all over the region, from Exposition Park and Downtown Los Angeles to the San Fernando Valley, Venice, and Orange County.
“We’re not going to have parking at venues. This is really going to be a transit-first Games,” he told NBCLA. “I think it will be an opportunity to change some of the mindset both within our city and people’s outside perceptions of our city.”
Krekorian referenced public transportation projects currently underway in Los Angeles that are backed by Measure M funds.
“We are engaged right now, in Los Angeles, in the largest investment in public transit in the entire nation thanks to the people’s support of Measure M,” he said. “So, the Olympics aren’t the reason that we’re doing that, but they give us an opportunity to incentivize completion of projects and to accelerate things.”
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Krekorian talks LA28 security
NBCLA asked Krekorian about LA28 security and there being enough federal funding for that security. When asked about security concerns, he said that task would be a true team sport at LA28.
“[Security] is the biggest concern that we have because this is the biggest event in the world — literally the biggest event in the world. So, it also creates the highest degree of security concerns,” Krekorian said.
“But this is not just a burden of the City of Los Angeles,” he continued. “This will be a shared responsibility of the federal, state, county, and city governments, working together. The planning has already been underway for security for well over a year through the National Special Security Event process, which brings all the security and public safety stakeholders and leaders together to plan collectively.”
Krekorian also spoke to his office’s work with the White House task force for LA28, saying they would work together to make the 2028 Summer Olympics a success.
“Obviously, you know, there are differences that we have in Los Angeles — political differences and differences of values — from some things that we’ve seen from the White House, but for this event, for this purpose, we have to figure out how to work together to make sure that this is a successful Games,” Krekorian explained. “Not for Los Angeles, not for the White House, but for our country, united, and for the world.”
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LA’s first time hosting the Paralympics
Although LA28 will mark the historic third time Los Angeles has hosted the Olympics, it will be the first time the city has hosted the Paralympic Games.
Krekorian sees it as an opportunity for LA to highlight accessibility.
“We’re focusing very much on ensuring that we use this opportunity to take a fresh look at Los Angeles and how can we ensure a higher degree of equity and accessibility for all people of Los Angeles — not just our visitors for the Paralympic Games, but for our own residents,” he told NBCLA.
“There’s one thing about accessibility that people don’t realize until, sometimes, they get a little older, and that is all of us, at some point, are going to have mobility constraints. It’s not just people who are using a wheelchair now. It’s all of us,” he continued. “And so, we need to make our city more pedestrian-friendly, safer, more accessible for all our residents. And this gives us the greatest opportunity in the world.”
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LA28’s economic impact on small businesses and projected profitability
LA84 was profitable, but what about LA28? Krekorian said that, so far, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics appear to be on track to deliver financial success. As a result, he said local tourism and businesses will also see a strong economic boost.
“2028 appears by every measure to be breaking all records in terms of sponsorship, ticket registrations, volunteer registrations,” Krekorian said. “I feel very confident that this will be a financially successful Games.”
Krekorian said LA28 has made an unprecedented commitment to dedicating a portion of its budget to small businesses. He said LA28 is expected to produce $18 billion in local economic impact.
“Most of the opportunity that is there for our Los Angeles businesses will not be from LA28, it will be from all the ancillary events, it’ll be the tourism impact, it’ll be the corporate headquarters that are formed here — hospitality events that are happening,” he explained.
“Every major corporation in the world is going to want to be in Los Angeles in 2028 and visible to the world. They’re all coming, they’re all spending a tremendous amount of money,” he continued. “With the multiplier effect of that, it’s going to be really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our business community to take advantage of. When you have tens of billions of dollars of economic activity, that fact alone is going to generate tremendous new tax revenues, which wouldn’t be realized if we were not hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Krekorian said long-term, there will be a legacy from the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Short-term, he said there will be the pure magic of celebrating human achievement.
From hosting World Series games and All-Star moments to serving as an exhibition venue during the 1984 Summer Olympics, Dodger Stadium is now set to welcome the world again as an official competition site for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Mekahlo Medina reports for NBC4 at 4pm on Feb. 20, 2026.
When are the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
The Olympics will return to Los Angeles for an historic third time in 2028.
The LA 2028 Olympics Opening Ceremony is July 14, 2028 with competition through July 30, 2028. The LA28 Paralympic Games will kick off Aug. 15, 2028 and close Aug. 27, 2028.
The organizing committee has released a first look at the competition schedule. Field hockey, basketball, rugby sevens, water polo, handball and cricket will be the first sports to kick off the competition on July 12, two days before the Opening Ceremony.
The first full date of competition, designated Day 1, is July 15. The order of events includes a twist for 2028 with track and field and swimming swapping their typical schedules. Track and field will compete at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the first week of the Olympics schedule with swimming moving to the second week at SoFi Stadium.
The marathons will still be on the final weekend.
The first medal will be awarded in triathlon on Day 1 in Venice Beach. July 29, or Day 15, will be the busiest day on the podium with 16 gold and bronze events in team sports and 19 individual medal events.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will host the opening ceremony in a duel-venue celebration. The Paralympic opening ceremony will be at SoFi Stadium with the closing ceremony at the Coliseum.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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