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L.A. Mayor Karen Bass walks to the podium during a flag installation ceremony for the Olympic and Paralympic flags at City Hall in Los Angeles, CA. on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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By JOSE HERRERA |  City News Service

Organizers of the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games on Monday unveiled their Impact and Sustainability Plan, which outlines how LA28 has committed to supporting local businesses, expanding youth sports and implementing sustainable solutions.

“LA28 represents more than a moment on the world stage. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to uplift our communities and lead by example,” LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover said in a statement.

The 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic is billed as “no-build” and “transit first,” meaning organizers and L.A. elected officials intend to use existing venues for the Games, as well as to reduce the event’s carbon foot-print by utilizing public transportation and electric vehicles, among other measures.

Mayor Karen Bass touted the city is leading the way toward a greener and more sustainable future for residents. The plan is another way for L.A. to benefit from the games, she added.

“We are making real investments in small businesses to ensure Games readiness, and are uplifting local jobs so that everyone benefits from these Games. By building on this momentum, relying on clean energy and transportation, creating economic opportunity, and using existing venues, these Games will leave a lasting, sustainable legacy for generations to come,” Bass said in a statement.

Under the plan, LA28 will launch its Resilient by Nature initiative, a program designed to invest in a more resilient Los Angeles while showcasing models that could be implemented in other cities around the world. There are three areas of focus: wildfire resilience and nature restoration, ocean protection and cooling solutions.

“The initiative was born out of conversations around the wildfires since January,” LA28 Vice President of Sustainability Becky Dale told City News Service in a telephone interview Aug. 21. “Some of the core activation areas where we’ll bring Resilient by Nature to life include things like our volunteer program, educational campaign, and many more opportunities that we’re exploring over the next three years.”

For the effort, LA28 is expected to launch a Community Resilience Fund early next year, providing grants to local nonprofits protecting the environment in the L.A. region.

Dale emphasized that another area of focus for LA28 is to implement reusable materials where they can, whether that be in materials for temporary infrastructure to food packaging fans will use.

“One of our commitments is that we are going to encourage fans to bring refillable, reusable water bottles to the venues and make free hydration stations available, just as one way that we can refuse waste at the source,” Dale told CNS.

On its promise to support local businesses, LA28 has already launched a community business supplier program designed to onboard local businesses. In partnership with the city and Los Angeles County, LA28 has hosted Sports and Entertainment Summit events for businesses to get ahead of procurement opportunities.

Erikk Aldridge, LA28 vice president of impact, told CNS in a telephone interview on Aug. 21 that their work in this area was informed by several working groups.

He said the Games will serve as a catalyst to help drive opportunities for business owners and workers.

“The games are going to be a tremendous opportunity, but when we go away we want to make sure that we are only uplifting businesses to get ready for contract opportunities related to LA28 and the Games delivery, but being able to be stronger and better moving forward,” Aldridge told CNS.

LA28 is on track to support 2 million total youth sports program enrollments through PlayLA and other youth sports partnerships. The committee is investing up to $160M in youth sports.

“We look forward to during this journey to 2028 to continue to conduct a strong PlayLA program in conjunction with the city and roll out other programs that will uplift youth through sports,” Aldridge said.

Dancers enjoy a Zumba class during the PLAyLA community celebration at North Hollywood's Valley Plaza Recreation Center July 31, 2025. Councilmember Adrin Nazarian and the Dept. of Recreation and Parks hosted the free event which provided over 400 free backpacks and a free meal to those in attendance.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)Dancers enjoy a Zumba class during the PLAyLA community celebration at North Hollywood’s Valley Plaza Recreation Center July 31, 2025. Councilmember Adrin Nazarian and the Dept. of Recreation and Parks hosted the free event which provided over 400 free backpacks and a free meal to those in attendance.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

PlayLA offers more than 40 sports for kids of all abilities between the ages of 3-17.

“By implementing the Impact and Sustainability Plan, which means, centralizing opportunities, reducing barriers, and reinforcing equitable procurement, we create pathways for local businesses and build a more sustainable future for every community in the region,” L.A. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said in a statement.

Maria Salinas, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, which was one of several organizations that helped guide the creation of the Impact and Sustainability Plan, said in a statement the plan will serve to strengthen the local economy.

“By collaborating in the development of suppliers across the Los Angeles region, LA28 is ensuring that opportunities are delivered to the people and places that make up Los Angeles,” Salinas said in her statement.