The reelection of Donald Trump to the US presidency could have no bearing on preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, organisers mentioned on Thursday (Nov 14), stating that the video games had been “above politics”.
LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman mentioned video games organisers within the staunchly Democratic California metropolis had been assured of working easily with the incoming Trump administration and had already been involved with the president-elect’s transition staff.
“The Olympics aren’t about politics, they usually’re not about crimson and blue – they’re about crimson, white, and blue,” Wasserman instructed a information convention.
“These are America’s video games going down in Los Angeles. And it sits above politics in nearly each method we expertise. Our conversations with the federal authorities all the time contain speaking with people from each celebration.
“That is the character of the world we reside in. On this nation, one aspect does not get to dictate the whole lot. It requires cooperation and coordination.”
Wasserman, who was talking following a go to to Los Angeles by the Worldwide Olympic Committee’s coordination fee, famous that Trump had been the US President in 2017 when the Video games had been handed to Los Angeles in Lima.
“President Trump beforehand was president, and really after we bought the video games in 2017 and signed federally binding paperwork that dedicated them to ship safety and transportation,” Wasserman mentioned.
“We have had nice success with each Republican and Democratic administrations, and we now have little doubt that may proceed. That began through the election course of or type of the election cycle – we had outreach from each transition groups in order that they might stand up to hurry and get working as soon as the election was over.”
Wasserman additionally mentioned LA28 officers had no considerations about insurance policies of the brand new Trump administration – which has vowed a sweeping immigration crackdown – probably disrupting preparations for the Olympics.
“President-elect Trump has been extremely clear in regards to the duty we now have internet hosting world occasions, beginning with the World Cup in 2026 and subsequently with the Olympics, and the necessities that locations on the federal authorities,” Wasserman mentioned.
“Journey, safety, transportation, logistics – there’s quite a bit that they supply and it is well-known and properly accepted throughout the federal authorities.
“We’re trying ahead to persevering with the excellent partnership we have had in any respect ranges of the federal authorities.”
LA28 chief government Reynold Hoover, a former three-star US Military common, instructed AFP that Olympic organisers had congratulated Trump in a letter following his victory final week.
“We now have already been partaking not solely with the Trump administration that is coming in however with our state, our companions on the Division of State, Division of Homeland Safety, Division of Commerce, the FCC – all the federal companions that we’ll want to assist convey these video games collectively,” Hoover mentioned.
Los Angeles officers have expressed concern that the brand new Trump administration could make life troublesome for the town, probably limiting federally funded applications.
Los Angeles metropolis council member Paul Krekorian instructed the Los Angeles Instances that Trump’s election left him fearing “4 troublesome years for our metropolis on a number of ranges, not least of which is our entry to federal funding for various applications, and preparations for the Olympics”.
