he Summer Olympic Games kick off next week in Paris, and around Los Angeles City Hall, the big question is: Who’s going?
With L.A. set to host the Games in 2028, numerous elected officials, political aides, and high-level staffers are heading to Paris to learn valuable lessons and enjoy the spectacle of the 17-day event.
Mayor Karen Bass announced on Thursday that she will join the official delegation, which includes First Lady Jill Biden. According to Gabby Maarse, a mayoral spokesperson, Bass will be in Paris from July 25 to July 27 to attend the opening ceremony and will return from August 7 to August 12 for the closing festivities.
Maarse stated that Bass will play an “official role” alongside Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach during the closing ceremony, where she will receive the Olympic flag to bring back to Los Angeles.
City Council President Paul Krekorian will attend the entire Games, arriving on July 24 and departing on August 12. City Councilmember Traci Park, who leads the council’s ad hoc committee on the Olympic Games, plans to be there from August 8 to 12 for the closing events.
Park, who represents part of the Westside, mentioned that she intends to discuss with Paris officials any unexpected challenges they face and the last-minute adjustments they are making.
“I want to see how the app is working, how crowd control and security are being handled, and what public transportation looks and feels like in the thick of it,” said Park, who plans to fund her trip with money from her officeholder committee.
For Los Angeles, the stakes extend far beyond tourism and the extensive public safety demands of an international event. City officials are collaborating closely with the private committee organizing and funding the 2028 Games. According to an agreement made several years ago, if the committee incurs losses, the city will be responsible for the first $250 million.
Krekorian, who is set to leave office at the end of the year, remains confident in the economic success of the L.A. Olympics. However, he has “nagging concerns” about the city services required during the Games, such as efficiently moving ticket holders from Point A to Point B.
In Paris, he plans to attend training on volunteer programs, ticketing issues, bus operations, and other technical matters. “It is the single biggest event in the world. That’s not something you can learn by mail order. You have to touch and feel it and see how it’s done,” said Krekorian, who will pay for the trip from his office’s travel budget.
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who heads the council’s public safety committee, is planning to visit during the first part of the Games. LAPD interim Chief Dominic Choi is also expected to attend part of the event, along with a 33-person delegation from the department.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is sending its own delegation, including Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Wiggins. Los Angeles County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath, both of whom sit on Metro’s board, will also attend. Metro’s delegation will examine transportation issues faced by Paris during the event, said agency spokesperson David Sotero. “This is particularly important,” he said, “as Metro was unable to observe the Tokyo Olympics during the pandemic in 2020.”
Metro will cover the costs of Hahn’s trip and at least part of Bass’ travel, while the county will pay for Horvath’s travel. Horvath is treating event tickets as a personal expense, according to her spokesperson, Constance Farrell.
