Los Angeles (LA), California, is facing difficulties in preparing for the Summer Olympics scheduled for 2028 due to the aftermath of a large wildfire that occurred earlier this year. All resources are being directed toward wildfire damage recovery, and the city of LA is struggling with a budget deficit.
On the 28th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported, "LA is struggling to recover from the large wildfire that occurred in January, and there are concerns about a lack of personnel and resources at this time when Olympic preparations are in full swing," adding that "the city of LA is facing a deficit of about $1 billion (approximately 1.4 trillion won) along with the threat of the mayor's reelection.
The expense of hosting the LA Summer Olympics is estimated to be about $7 billion (approximately 9.7 trillion won). Moreover, LA is responsible for the accommodations, meals, and transportation of over 10,000 athletes and millions of expected tourists. LA has over 40 Olympic venues distributed throughout the city.
It is unclear whether it can secure the $7 billion in funding immediately. According to the NYT, LA officials harbor doubts about whether the Olympic organizing committee can achieve the target amount of $7.1 billion through corporate sponsorships, donations, and ticket sales. If the committee fails to meet the target, the shortfall will be borne by the city of LA and the State Governments of California.
The hostile attitude of the Donald Trump administration toward LA and California, where the Democratic Party is strong, is also a problem. The federal government promised $4 billion in funding for the LA Olympics, but there is a possibility that the Trump administration may not fulfill this promise. LA Mayor Karen Bass also acknowledged that President Trump could cut the necessary funds.
Professor Jules Boykoff of Pacific University in Oregon, who has studied the Olympics, noted, "LA city employees are devoting time that should be spent on Olympic preparations to wildfire recovery," pointing out that LA is facing a 'triple whammy' of wildfires, budget crises, and the Trump factor in its Olympic preparations.
As a result, the promises made by LA during the Olympic bid process are being either canceled or scaled back. Previously, LA had promised a $1 billion Olympic village where athletes could stay, a car-free state-of-the-art transportation system, and an immediately usable network of venues and facilities during the 2015 bid.
However, the Olympic village, which was to cost $1 billion, has been canceled due to expense issues, and athletes will instead stay in dormitories at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The canoe slalom event, initially scheduled to be held in Encino, 30 minutes by car from downtown LA, has been moved to Oklahoma City, located 1,300 miles (about 2,100 kilometers) away. The volleyball event was changed from Santa Monica Beach to Alamitos Beach after the Santa Monica city government withdrew its sponsorship.
The transportation aspect is not much different. LA originally promised that “all ticket holders would travel to the venues via public transportation, on foot, or by bicycle,” but Mayor Karen Bass now states, “This does not mean there will be no cars; it means you should use public transportation to get to the venues.” The $120 billion rail expansion plan, including the East San Fernando light rail, is still not completed.
Alyssa Walker, editor of the newsletter 'Torch'd' which covers the Olympic preparation process, told the NYT, "LA is not yet completely ready to welcome all visitors as a mega event capital," and questioned, "In such a situation, what do we gain from the Olympics?"
There is also an optimistic view. In an interview, Mayor Bass said, "I understand the concerns," but noted, "We faced a very serious economic recession and grim economic outlook right before the 1984 LA Olympics, yet we successfully hosted the Olympics."