IOC President visits LA28, World Athletics Championships, World Games and United Nations
IOC President Thomas Bach finished his visit to the United States on Monday in Los Angeles. Welcomed by LA28 President Casey Wasserman, he addressed the growing Organising Committee team. They presented the latest developments, in particular the ongoing projects for youth engagement, which are already delivering a legacy six years before the Games.
During the visit, he was able to see the PlayLA programme first hand, with children taking part in sports activities including basketball and swimming. The programme was launched in 2021 to ensure that children across Los Angeles have an opportunity to participate in low-cost or no-cost quality sports – including adaptive sports – in their neighbourhood. The USD 160 million investment from the IOC and LA28 is the single largest commitment to youth sport development in California.
During the visit, LA28 also announced the dates for the LA28 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony which is set for 14 July 2028, with the Games running through to 30 July. The LA28 Paralympic Games will then kick off on 15 August 2028, and close on 27 August.
President Bach was accompanied throughout the day by IOC Vice-President and Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission Nicole Hoevertsz. Also present were IOC Members Anant Singh and Luis Alberto Moreno.
During his visit, the President also had the opportunity for a meeting with the IOC Member in the United States, Anita DeFrantz, who was instrumental in the organisation of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984 and who was Mayor of the Olympic Village during those Games. She accompanied the President throughout the visit.
President Bach also took part in a meeting with local politicians and stakeholders, including the outgoing Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, and a number of US Olympians.
He arrived in Los Angeles from the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he met a number of athletes and watched competitions including the men's 100 metres final, where Team USA had a clean sweep. He also had the opportunity to meet legendary sprinter Allyson Felix, who bowed out of competition with a bronze medal in the 4x400 metres mixed relay.
Welcomed by World Athletics President and IOC Member Sebastian Coe, he addressed the Executive Council of World Athletics and took part in an extensive question and answer session with the Council members. IOC Executive Board member Nawal El Moutawakel and IOC Member Sergii Bubka were also present.
Whilst in Eugene, the IOC President also attended a reception given by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), where the new USOPC President elect, Gene Sykes, and his predecessor Susanne Lyons were in attendance.
President Bach had arrived in Eugene after attending the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. Welcomed by the President of the International World Games Association (IWGA), José Perurena, he had the chance to see events in a number of sports including petanque, racquetball, flying disc, wushu, beach handball and korfball.
The visit to the United States began in New York last week with a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The two leaders discussed the current international context. IOC Member Luis Alberto Moreno, who is also the IOC’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, joined the meeting.
Later, there was a meeting with the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, during which they discussed their ongoing collaboration to promote and support women and girls through sport.
Also in New York, President Bach met broadcaster NBC Universal executives Mark Lazarus, the Chair of NBC Universal, and Jeff Shell, the CEO. He also met a team from TOP Partner Visa, led by CEO Al Kelly.