Golden State Governor Gavin Newsom was on deck at Los Angeles International Airport to welcome home the California Olympians, fresh from their medal-laden stint at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Amidst the raucous arrival cheers, Newsom tipped his hat to the 121 Californian athletes, a substantial cut from Team USA's 594-strong contingent, acknowledging their haul of 22 medals, six of which shimmered golden, as reported by the Governor's Office.
With the Paralympics poised to take Paris by storm come August 28, Newsom, alongside First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and LA Mayor Karen Bass, gathered to meet and honor the athletes and Olympic staff members, the latter returning with the official Olympic flag which will soon find its new home in Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, as Los Angeles warms up to host for the third time; having notched the gig previously in 1984 and 1932 this time also adding the Paralympics to its roster.
"The Olympics and Paralympics are coming to Los Angeles in 2028, and California couldn't be more excited," Governor Newsom expressed, proudly addressing the athletic prowess and prospects. "These Games are an opportunity to show the best of our state, and our nation. We look forward to highlighting not only the majesty of California, but also our strength, integrity, sportsmanship, and perseverance," Newsom added.
The First Partner resonated with Newsom's sentiments, focusing on the laudable performance of the female athletes: "Congratulations and welcome home, Team USA! We were so proud to watch such an amazing display of talent and sportsmanship, and especially inspired by the incredible female athletes who were the driving force behind Team USA's dominating performance in the 2024 Olympics! Hats off as well to California's Olympians," Siebel Newsom remarked, pivoting the conversation to the fervent anticipation surrounding Los Angeles as it gears up to unfurl the welcome mat to over 15,000 athletes from across the globe, gearing up for a spectacle spearheaded by the privately funded, LA28's organizing committee replenished by corporate partnerships, licensing deals, hospitality, ticket proceeds alongside a hefty sponsorship from the International Olympic Committee.
In a show of longstanding support for the athletes, the Governor had already played a crucial hand, signing AB 2747 into law back in October 2022, a legislative move granting U.S. Olympians and Paralympians toiling away in California's training grounds to snag in-state tuition come January 2023, a financial fillip hailed by the athletic community.
