In Video: Inside the effort to rebuild Los Angeles in time for the 2028 Olympics
The Scale of Devastation Across Los Angeles Comes into Focus as Rebuilding Efforts Begin
As the city of Los Angeles starts to pick up the pieces left behind by the devastating fires, the question of how to rebuild a city that has suffered so much is being asked. With the clock ticking on several major events, including the World Cup in 2022, the Super Bowl in 2027, and the highly anticipated Summer Olympics in 2028, the challenge of rebuilding is a daunting task.
A City of Resilience
Despite the enormity of the task ahead, former LA City Council president Paul Koren, who now heads the city’s Office of Major Events, remains hopeful. "This city has a record of coming back from difficult challenges, and it’s part of our DNA to come back even from the most difficult challenges," he said.
Olympic Games in Jeopardy?
The 2028 Summer Olympics are expected to cost almost $7 billion, with the majority of the funding coming from a private group. While the last two Olympics in LA turned a profit, the risk of a loss exists, and concerns are being raised about the feasibility of the event. "The question is, will we do the Olympics in a way that benefits Los Angeles?" said former City Councilman Mike Bonnin, who represented the Palisades and voted for the Olympics to come to LA.
A Chance for Unity and Rebirth
Despite the challenges, the Olympics could be a chance for the city to come together and showcase its resilience. "This moment that Los Angeles is going through now is profoundly wrenching, and I don’t think we’re quite fully cognizant of how deep and big this moment is," said Bonnin. "But through the devastation, the games could unite the city, like in 2011 when Japan rallied the country with a bid for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a devastating earthquake and tsunami."
The Cost of Rebuilding
The scale of the devastation is almost unimaginable, with early estimates suggesting the cost of rebuilding could be as high as $275 billion. The impact of the fires on the city is enormous, and the path to recovery will be long and difficult.
A Call to Action
As the city begins to rebuild, it is clear that it will be a story of coming back from disaster to creating a phenomenal success. The question is, how will LA come together as it prepares to host the World Cup and the Olympic Games while still coping with unimaginable loss? Only time will tell.