Previous “Success” The 1984 Summer Olympics, hosted in Los Angeles, is widely considered to be the most successful Games of all time. But this success is only in terms of profitability. The city made money off the Olympics (a rarity), but its citizens did not feel the benefits. The militarization of the LAPD was not a success. The “sanitization” of the area around the Coliseum, cracking down on black and Latino youth, was not a success. These acts were felt long after the Games ended. “On Feb. 6, 1985, an LAPD SWAT team used a military-grade tank received from the Olympics and equipped with a 14-foot battering ram to smash down a wall of a suspected ‘rock house.’ The officers found two women and three children eating ice cream, no guns, a small amount of marijuana and no cocaine” (Washington Post). Without recognizing the potential of the 2028 Summer Olympics to exacerbate similar problems as the 1984 Games, it’s only a matter of time before the most marginalized citizens in Los Angeles are further neglected and abused.
solvable problems The 2028 Summer Olympics are already causing problems for local Angelenos. While there are many issues that need our attention, this project focuses on four: over-policing of the homeless population, lack of democracy and public involvement, displacement of at-risk communities, and enormous spending on the Games instead of citizens. The important thing to note about these current issues is that they are solvable, meaning it’s not too late for changes that could save lives.
new games One of the first things you encounter on la28.org, the official website of the 2028 Summer Olympics, is the vision for the Games. The vision is to “host a new Games for a new era that benefit our communities and connect the Olympic and Paralympic movements to the future.� Hosting a new Games that benefit communities is my vision as well. I want to see a Games that listens to its citizens, protects families from displacement, and prioritizes people. And with the Games still eight years away, these practices can still be implemented.
posters These posters present the four solvable issues this project is focused on. The series is centered around the phrase from the LA 2028 website “Host a new games that...�
website The website holds statistics and other information to support the statements shown on each poster. The research is clear and concise to easily present the most important information.
colors of la The colors and fonts seen throughout the design are similar to those used in the official LA 2028 branding. This decision was made in tandem with the decision to use LA 2028’s own wording of “Host a new games that benefit our communities” to directly critique them of doing the opposite. This parodying approach allows for more biting critique. The colors chosen for LA 2028 are ones representing the sky of Los Angeles. Ruth Wallach, the director of the Arts and Humanities Libraries at the University of Southern California states, “It reminds me of those smoggy sunsets LA does so well. Other places have good sunsets, but the smog in LA gives our own such magnificent color.” Although smog creates a beautiful sight, the brand once again is represented cheerfully despite its harmful origins.
nolympics la NOlympics LA is a coalition starting in 2017 with origins in the Housing & Homelessness committee of the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Their goal is to prevent Los Angeles from hosting the 2028 Olympic Games and eventually end the Games altogether. While my project is similar in nature to NOlympics LA, I aim for a better version of the Games rather than a complete cancellation. I recognize how they benefit cities in ways such as economic growth, building infrastructure, and increasing tourism. Therefore, a complete elimination of the Olympics is not a realistic solution, but the demand for better practices to protect host cities is realistic.
Next steps This project is the first step in changing the Olympics for the better. To continue this mission in the future, I wish to join others who are professionals in areas such as urban planning, economics, public policy, etc. in order to solve this multidisciplinary issue. The fight for human rights within the Olympic Games has existed for decades and will continue until those affected by the Games are valued and protected.