Triathlon Events Moved to Venice Beach for 2028 Olympic Games

The Los Angeles Olympics venue plan has been finalized, with the triathlon events relocated from Long Beach to Venice Beach, which “promises a stunning backdrop for athletes and spectators alike,” according to a release from World Triathlon.

The Games in Paris did an amazing job of utilizing the many of the city’s most iconic landmarks to showcase the city, including the Stade de France, the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles and the Pont Alexandre III bridge, which is where the triathlon races were held. A similar vision is in the works for the Games in LA.

“The 2028 Olympic venue plan invites communities from across the region to celebrate the Games coming to their backyard with the most exciting sports staged at some of the world’s top-tier existing stadiums and arenas, famous beaches and purpose-built temporary structures,” said LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover. 

It has long been expected that the triathlon race would take place in Long Beach, utilizing the same course used by the Long Beach Legacy Triathlon, but with Long Beach now hosting Beach Volleyball, triathlon now heads to Venice Beach, “the historic beachfront neighbourhood in Los Angeles.” The triathlon venue will also serve as the starting points for the marathon and cycling road races.

“This is a huge moment for Venice,” Brennan Lindner, the race director for the Supertri Long Beach Legacy Tri and a 20-year Venice resident told the Westside Current. “We’ve built an identity around health, movement, and inclusive community fitness. To have the eyes of the world on this beach is an honor — and a responsibility.”

Yesterday’s announcement also confirmed the triathlon program for the LA Games, which will include three medal events – men’s and women’s individual, along with the mixed relay. The athlete quota remains the same – 55 men and 55 women.

“No Build” Strategy

There will be no permanent facilities built for the LA Games, which will use venues from across the region. This “no build” strategy should save millions (that could easily read hundreds of millions, I would imagine) of dollars. This is the third time Los Angeles will be hosting the Olympic Games, becoming the third city to do that along with London and Paris. In 1984 the LA Games achieved an unusual feat for an Olympics – it actually made money. That achievement might not be duplicated in 2028, but organizers are doing their best to ensure that any cost overruns are kept to a minimum. The Montreal Games in 1976 remain the leader on the disastrous overrun front – those games ended up 720 percent over the original budget. The Paris Games last year were a reported 115 percent over-budget. It’s become so common for Olympic hosts to lose billions over the last few decades that the London Games, which broke even, were considered to be a success.

Part of the reason the 2028 Games will find it difficult to turn a profit is the size of the event – while triathlon fans are thrilled with the addition of various sports to the program, it has dramatically increased the numbers of events and athletes. In 1984 there were 221 events and 6,829 athletes. The Games in 2028 are expected to host 800 events and 15,000 athletes.

According to officials, the revised venue plan should increase revenue from the Games while reducing the risk of cost overruns, which is important to the city as it looks to recover from the the costs of the wildfires last January. The city will be partly responsible for any cost overruns, along with the state of California.

The city is hoping that won’t be the case and that in addition to the worldwide exposure the Games will provide, the legacy of the Olympics will offer additional benefits to the city.

“This plan brings the Games to all corners of our city like never before — from the Sepulveda Basin to the iconic shores of Venice Beach,” Mayor Karen Bass said. “Our world-famous neighborhoods as well as our hidden gems will be on full display for all to experience and enjoy. And as we come together to prepare, we will help small businesses, create local jobs, and implement lasting environmental and transportation improvements.”

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