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≡ IOC COORD. COMMISSION ≡
The seventh visit of the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission for the 2028 Olympic Games was completed Thursday with a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, and things could not be better. Said Chair Nicole Hoevertsz, a 1984 Olympian herself from Aruba in synchronized swimming – as then known – told reporters:
● “We look at what has been achieved and we use that progress to shape what still lies ahead. And the progress that we have seen so far gives us – and I want to emphasize this – every confidence that the next two years will put us on course for another memorable edition of the Olympic Games.”
● “Every time we meet with LA28, we are reminded of the quality, the commitment and the professionalism of the people working behind the scenes to bring these Games to life. With each visit, more progress is visible, more detail is in place. And more of the project is moving from concept and planning into concrete operational delivery.”
● “This was the best CoComm ever. The team the two gentlemen on my right have assembled is a fabulous team. A team of very young, dynamic, very passionate, very knowledgeable, very trained people who know what they’re doing. So this Coordination Commission gives us great confidence; the team is ready, the Games are on track and the Games are in safe hands of a very qualified and very capable team.”
IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi (SUI), acknowledging the unique, 11-year ramp-up time, said the state of preparation now is “better than ever before. … At two years out, where we are today, we’ve not seen that before.”
LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman, who said he has no plans to resign over years-ago contacts with the infamous Jeffrey Epstein and associates, said in prepared remarks that “The full picture of our preparation is strong and impressive.” Asked about worries from Los Angeles City Council members about ensuring that any added costs to the City related to the 2028 Games will be covered – especially for security – he replied firmly:
“We have been very clear since day one that we are operating a break-even budget, as our goal, with significant contingency built in. Those numbers have not changed. …
“We have a lot more clarity and fidelity on our revenue, which should give everybody the confidence that we will deliver against that. And the Federal government, at every step of the way, has provided us the funding we need to reimburse local security operations, transportation, all the deliverables that rely on the Federal government and so of the concerns that they may have, I don’t think those are not founded in the reality that we’ve delivered against in relation with the Federal government and the needs we have.”
LA28 chief executive Reynold Hoover explained further, “Our relationship with the City is really great and we meet with them on a weekly basis … I’m not concerned about the state of our relationship with the City and they know they are a partner with us.”
He was asked about the “Enhanced City Resources Master Agreement” outlining what LA28 will pay for related to City costs. While the existing Games Agreement signed in 2021 specified this document to be completed by October 2025, Hoover was unconcerned:
“I wouldn’t characterize it as delayed. I wouldn’t characterize it as late. We are in really good conversations with the City about the ECRMA. We will reach agreement, I am very confident on that.
“I think we’re really close and I don’t think it’s anything that we’re holding up and I don’t think it’s anything the City is holding up. You know, the City’s got a lot of things going on as well beyond just the Olympics that are coming in 2028 and so we respect that. And we’re having a healthy dialogue with members of the City Council as well as our City family on it and I think you’ll see something moving pretty soon.”
Hoover also brushed aside questions about 24% fees included in the price of Olympic Games as part of contractual obligations with LA28’s suppliers and “I think our ticket fee is consistent with industry standards. We’re not hiding anything; when you check out, you see all of the fees that are applied to the particular ticket.”
For Wasserman, enjoying the IOC’s full-throated endorsement, he sees more to come, noting:
“Our metrics have been far in excess of what we expected and the interest in every line item of our business continues to be incredible and I have no doubt that’s going to continue.”
Observed: The only public aspect of the Coordination Commission meetings is the final news conference, so it’s easy to think the Games are ready to be staged now from the IOC’s glowing comments.
Not quite. Hoevertsz offered some clarity, explaining that the progress they see is in the maturation of the organizing committee:
“The discussions are no longer about ambition, about direction or broad concepts. They are now about delivery models, operational choices, priorities and timelines. They are about turning plans into solutions that are realistic, integrated and deliverable. In simple terms, it is about bringing planning to a level where it can be tested properly, so that teams are ready when the time comes in 2028.”
So, there is a long way to go. But at present, the IOC is (publicly) happy. So, LA28 is happy (publicly) too.
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