In what will be the first time in over 40 years, the US will be hosting the Summer Olympics, following news that Los Angeles has negotiated a deal with the International Olympic Committee to host the 2028 Summer Games. That would make it only the third city -- behind London and Athens -- to have a threefer under its belt since the modern games began in 1896 (LA previously hosted in 1932 and 1984). That gives you a solid decade to brush up on your shot put.
The announcement ends months of speculation as to which cities will follow Tokyo's 2020 hosting duties in the subsequent two summer games, as both LA and Paris were locked in a bidding war for the 2024 gig. Now that LA's claimed 2028, it opens up the likelihood that Paris will get it in 2024 when the official announcement is made by the IOC on September 13. If indeed Paris does get the '24 games, it will also join the elite "three times" club (it's previously hosted in 1900 and 1924).
Winning the chance to host the Olympics is obviously a huge deal and point of pride, and it can bring in gobs of cash for a city. But, it can also financially hobble a city, considering the spending required to build out an infrastructure that can support the myriad events and millions of people who'll flock there. Atlanta, the last US city to host the Summer Games in 1996, was pretty dramatically transformed in preparation, and that led to issues of their own. LA's mayor Eric Garcetti is proclaiming that the deal is a good one, after the IOC agreed to a number of demands that will provide discounts and set up more financially safe situation for the city.
Still, some residents are wary of the decision.Their overwhelming concern, though, is related to how it will affect traffic, which for anyone who's spent any meaningful amount of time in the gridlock-afflicted city, will most definitely understand. We wouldn't be all that surprised to find out that the torch ceremony will have to be delayed by hours due to a crippling backup on the 405.
Thankfully, LA has roughly 11 years to address its imminent traffic issues. In the meantime, get ready for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, 2020 in Tokyo, 2022 in Beijing, and 2024 in (probably) Paris.
Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email and subscribe here for our YouTube channel to get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.