Julius OkorieUS President-elect, Donald Trump, has rubbished insinuations in some quarters that the recent wild fire that ravaged the city of Los Angeles will affect preparations for the 2028 Olympics to be hosted by the city.
There has been calls for the Games to be moved following the fire that left in its trail deaths and destruction of multimillion dollar properties.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHowever, Casey Wasserman, Chairman of the LA 2028 organising committee, met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence on Wednesday and he provided full backing for the Games taking over the baton from the 2024 Olympics in France.
“These are America’s Olympics,” Trump told Wasserman, according to news website Axios. “These are more important than ever to L.A. and I’m going to be supportive in every way possible to make them the greatest Games,” he added.
The Los Angeles wildfire disaster has raised questions over whether the city can deliver safe and successful Games.
So far, none of the more than 80 venues due to stage Olympic competition in Los Angeles have been directly affected by the infernos that have left at least 25 people dead and left entire neighbourhoods in ruins.
“As a lifelong Angeleno, I shared our sentiments for President-elect Trump’s continued support in Los Angeles amid the devastation in our region,” Wasserman said in a statement to Axios.
READ ALSO: Hush Money Case: Trump Sentenced, Gets ‘Unconditional Discharge’
While the flames that razed Pacific Palisades came uncomfortably close to the Riviera Country Club – which will host 2028’s Olympic golf tournament – the overwhelming majority of venues are situated outside what would be regarded as high-risk fire zones.
USA it will be recalled won the 2024 Olympics with a total of 126 medals comprising 40 Gold,44 Silver and 42 Bronze with China,Japan, Australia and hosts France concluding the top five finishers in that order. The Paris Olympics featured 329 events in 32 sports (48 disciplines).
The 2028 Olympics will be the third time the city of Los Angeles will be hosting the Games, having previously hosted in 1932 and 1984 respectively.
US President-Elect, Donald Trump, who is making his second ‘missionary’ return to the Whitehouse, is due to be sworn in on January 20.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
