Los Angeles takes centre stage at Paris 2024 closing ceremony

The president and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Adam Burke, was watching on in anticipation at the spectacular closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, as his city prepares to host the 2028 event.

In the spectacular closing ceremony for the Paris Olympics, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received the Olympic Flag from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. In an event seen my millions, it was then handed to Tom Cruise who jumped on a motorbike, sped through Paris streets before riding it onto a plane.

In a pre-recorded segment, Cruise then parachuted onto the Hollywood sign where it was redecorated to feature the five Olympic rings, before he handed the flag over. The closing event marks the countdown to the 2028 Olympics in the City of Angels.

“We’re honoured to join Mayor Karen Bass to commemorate the historic handover of the Olympic flag from Paris to Los Angeles. We can’t wait to roll out the red carpet for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games where LA will become the third city in history – and first in the US – to host the Games a record three times, joining Paris and London on the medal stand. The handover raises visibility for the City of Angels as one of the true sports capitals of the world. Félicitations to our friends in Paris for an incredible job!” said Burke.

Los Angeles will also be celebrating the FIFA World Cup, NBA All-Star Game and U.S. Women’s Open Championship all coming to town in in 2026, plus Super Bowl LXI in 2027. All of which will culminate with the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.

The city offers something for every sports fan year-round with 11 professional sports teams and some of the world’s most iconic sports and entertainment venues. The 2028 Olympic games look to utilise these existing venues as part of its sustainability efforts.

Highlighted venues include the SoFi Stadium that is set to host the largest swimming venue in Olympic history with 38,000 seats while the recently refurbished LA Memorial Coliseum set to be the only stadium to host the Track and Field competitions in three Olympic games. Diving will return to the same pool that hosted the Aquatics events in the 1932 Olympic games while basketball takes over the new Intuit Dome arena opening in August 2024. Events will also be held in the San Fernando Vally for the first time with the BMX, Skateboarding, and Archery competitions.

Sports tourism currently generates 10 per cent of the world’s expenditure on tourism, with an estimated growth rate of 17.5 per cent. This increase makes it one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism.

The City of Angels remains as one of the world’s most diverse and inclusive destinations with its countless exciting new offerings emerging in recent years. It includes the multi-billion-dollar modernization of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and new attractions like the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Destination Crenshaw, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD at Universal Studios Hollywood, Intuit Dome, and Cosm Los Angeles.