GO TEAM USA! Ready to step up with TEAM LA? We were starstruck by yesterday's closing ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Our favorite part of the blockbuster finish? The Hollywood magic that marked the handoff to the next host city – Los Angeles. Approximately 80,000 people attended the star-studded farewell festivities at the Stade de France to celebrate the 10,500 athletes who participated in the Paris 2024 Games.
We were filled with pride to see LA Mayor Karen Bass receive the Olympic flag while H.E.R. sang the U.S. national anthem. It wouldn't be a Hollywood handoff without a gravity-defying stunt! Tom Cruise jumped from the stadium roof on a zipline to retrieve the Olympic flag from Mayor Bass and sped out of the stadium on a motorcycle before the screen showed taped footage of the flag making its way to LA. Cut to video of the Olympic rings adorning the Hollywood sign.
The final performance doubled as the opening scene of the next chapter. Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Billie Eilish, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers entertained crowds in front of a beachfront LA28 sign in Long Beach. We're ziplining in with a reality check now. Those delighted fans represent only a tiny fraction of the international crowds that will flock to Southern California in four short years for the 2028 Olympics. Are we doing enough to ensure LA is ready to play host?
BizFed is doubling down on its commitment to mobilizing business leaders on all fronts to support LA28 preparation, whether it's advancing contracting opportunities for diverse local businesses of all sizes, supercharging investments in public transportation infrastructure to facilitate the "no-car" games, establishing critical public-private partnerships, or preparing local employers for smooth transitions to remote operations while the games are underway.
We invite you to lend your vital voice to our LA28-related advocacy efforts! Please contact alysia.rivers@bizfed.org to get involved in BizFed's Arts, Entertainment, Sports, & Olympics Committee. Remember – BizFed unites more than 240 diverse business groups representing 420,000 employers with more than 5 million employees in Southern California. We have the muscle and might across all sectors to help move mountains ahead of the games.
BizFed Board Chair Fran Inman recorded a brief video message to thank Mayor Bass for teeing up the 2028 Olympics with polish, panache, and LA pride on the international stage. Click below to watch on our Instagram stories. Lean in with us! Share what you're most excited about as an LA resident and local business leader on your own social platforms. Use the #LA28 hashtag and tag @bizfedla for instant amplification.
