The fires that destroyed parts of Los Angeles in the last days They questioned the city’s ability to safely host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in a region prone to natural disasters.
until now, None of the 80 Olympic venues that have been announced have been directly affected by the fires which has claimed at least 24 lives and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings since Tuesday.
The Riviera Country Club golf course was saveddespite being in the ruined western district of the Pacific Palisades. The UCLA University Campuswhich will serve as the Olympic Village, Almost deserted on Mondaybecause of its proximity to the Palisades fire, which continues to cause havoc.
Some experts have raised the challenge of organizing the world’s largest event in a region regularly ravaged by fires.
«The situation is serious and, due to events related to global warming, It is worth wondering if this situation could be repeated, possibly during the Games», declared Simon Chadwickprofessor of sports economics and geopolitics at Skema business school in Paris, at the British newspaper The iPaper.
Mr. also features Chadwick the insurance issues that could affect the mega-event. Historical data tempers concerns about Los Angeles: according to state agency CalFire, No wildfires have affected Los Angeles County before the current one is among the 20 most destructive in California history.
Besides, The Games will be held in Julya time of year when Santa Ana winds are not blowing, one of the main factors of the current disaster.
«Organizing committees will take these events into account in their planning.“But essentially you’re working with probabilities: How much do you reasonably need to factor it into a budget, how cautious are you or not?” .
«We will see how much they consider the risk, but these fires act as a big reminder».
In its part, Mark Dyersonprofessor at the University of Pennsylvania, pThe idea of re-awarding the Games to Paris, home of the 2024 edition, has been raised if Los Angeles has problems. “That would be unfortunate, but I’m sure the IOC (International Olympic Committee) is weighing all the possibilities,” he told the New York Post.
For his part, the governor of California, Gavin Newsomassured NBC that preparations for the 2028 Games and the 2026 Football World Cupeight of the games are scheduled in Los Angeles, They are very advanced.
For Newsom, the proliferation of major sporting events in Los Angeles in the coming years (Club World Cup 2025, NBA All-Star Game 2026, Superbowl 2027) should be seen as an opportunity.
“In my humble opinion, and without being too naive or optimistic, it reinforces the need to work quickly and collaborate,” he said.
Far-right figure like debater Charlie Kirk has called for the “cancellation” of the Los Angeles GamesDemocratic stronghold.
«I hope that by the time the Games come around, the Altadena and Palisades areas will have been rebuilt», he declared to AFP Shawn Sedlacekan event professional who turned one of his buildings into a donation center for disaster victims.
«I don’t think the situation needs to stop this organization.. We will be ready and for this we need support more than ever, we need to create jobs, we need to enjoy the arrival of the Games,” he declared.
Los Angeles 2028 organizers, who have publicly offered their support to firefighters and evacuees, did not immediately respond to AFP.
Source: La Verdad
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