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≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡
The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Gams organizing committee released its “Impact and Sustainability Plan” on Monday, a 62-page review of its community outreach program which fulfills its commitment to the City of Los Angeles under the 2021 Games Agreement, and makes a long list of promises on its business, procurement and operations practices.
Goals for community business and procurement, local hire and sustainability were due, based on a lengthy outreach and discussion process, by 31 March 2025, and delivered now. The key promised goals:
● “Target 75% of addressable spend in the Greater Los Angeles Area”
● “Target 25% of addressable spend with small businesses.”
“Addressable spend” was defined in the report as “the portion of LA28’s overall spend open to competition, excluding spending that is required to go to specific organizations based on regulatory requirements or supply rights agreements.”
Outreach to local businesses will be extended through an “LA28 Procurement Plan” to be rolled out in 2026.
On youth sports, LA28 committed to $160 million in spending to subsidize participation in City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks programs, with 1.02 million enrollees reported through the 2024-25 program year, and more than $100 million committed so far.
Sustainability programming starts with the “Radical Reuse” of existing venues and emphasizing ways to reduce waste and further uses clean energy systems and closely-managed resource consumption. An “LA28 Community Resilience Fund” will be created to support local, non-profit organizations which can assist in the sustainability effort. Further commitments:
● “At least 90% materials used for temporary infrastructure and overlay at competition venues will be reused or recycled post-Games.”
● Waste from construction and Games installations will be targeted through (a) design and product selection; (b) resource reuse by return to rental use, resale or donation; (c) recycling and composting wherever possible.
● Waste from concessions is being managed carefully, with goals of (a) “100% of concessions beverage containers will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable in local facilities”; (b) “100% of Los Angeles area venues will utilize free hydration stations, encouraging spectators to bring in reusable bottles”; (c) “100% of Los Angeles area venues will activate food waste composting programs;” and (d) “100% of Los Angeles area venues will activate food donation programs.”
LA28 is further committing to carbon reductions, “for operations and construction by at least 10% compared to the Paris 2024 Games,” including the construction of no new venues (a major savings and possibly meeting the goals already) and the new Community Resilience Fund.
On energy, LA28 “will work to minimize the use of temporary power during the Games – and purchase 100% renewable electricity for its venues. Where LA28 does need to supplement the grid, the Games will maximize the use of lower-carbon temporary power technologies, such as batteries and solar, to the extent feasible.”
On transportation, LA28 committed, “100% of buses in the Games Enhanced Transit System will aim to be zero- or near-zero emission” and “[n]o spectator parking will be available at or near most Los Angeles area venues,” making 2028 a “transit-first Games.” This is for the system the organizing committee will run for athletes, officials and media and does not include public transit, in the hands of the L.A. Metro Transportation Authority.
Heat mitigation was also noted, with a strategy to be developed and support for the ShadeLA tree-planting project, through the Community Resilience Fund. LA28 further committed to earning an ISO 20121 designation for sustainable event management.
It’s a detailed project report which sets out significant goals under which the LA28 Games are to be staged. The implementation will depend mostly on the availability of money, resources and enough time to find the desired resources and providers prior to 14 July 2028.
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