California wildfires threaten Los Angeles 2028 Olympic venues
“Los Angeles, America’s most iconic cultural and sports hub, is in the midst of a nightmarish disaster,” arena insider said Wednesday, the devastating California wildfires that are engulfing residential areas are also a 2028 to Los Angeles’ Olympic organizing committee. The spread of wildfires continues unabated and poses a serious threat to the venues for the upcoming 2028 Olympics, the New York Post reported Wednesday, including the historic Thevara Country Club and the UCLA campus.
California wildfire, image credit: IC photo
The 100-year-old Thevara Country Club, which will host the 2028 Olympic golf tournament, is just 8 km from the scene of the Palisade fire. The Olympic Village was supposed to be built on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, but a fire is looming.
The New York Post warned that many Olympic venues, including Sophie’s stadium, could be at risk if the fires spread further with the help of winds. The leisure area of the Sepúlveda Basin, which hosts archery, BMX and skateboard competitions, could also be at risk, according to an analysis by match insider. As of 11, the local fire department reported that the region has not been building damage or injuries, but the situation may change at any time.
Beyond the Olympic venues, the crisis has had a profound impact on teams and players in sports leagues. Many current and retired athletes live in the disaster area, including former Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. , who lost his house and 10 Olympic medals in the fire. Los Angeles 2028′ official social media posts expressing concern for the disaster area and its victims were dismissed as“False concern” by frustrated citizens, according to essential sports.
The fire has raised deep questions about whether Los Angeles will be able to protect itself from fire at the Olympics, according to the site? How will the disaster affect event planning and global public opinion? Tom stollings, an Olympic historian and professor at Rice University, told the Washington Post that if any of the venues were“Damaged beyond repair within the next three years,” Events are likely to move to nearby areas and stadiums, and organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles games are expected to make a series of measures as soon as possible.
Mark Dyson, a sports historian and Pennsylvania State University Professor, believes the Los Angeles games could even be moved to another city or country. “[ the 2028 Games ] can come back because the facilities for the 2024 games are intact,” Freeman Dyson said