Fires in Los Angeles, a major concern for the organization of the 2028 Olympic Games

When he had to evacuate his home in Pacific Palisades, nestled between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, in Los Angeles, Tuesday, January 7, Gary Hall Jr. acted urgently. The former swimmer, 50, only had time to take his insulin, two paintings and his dog, Puddles. His ten Olympic medals, including five gold, gleaned between 1996 and 2004, were swallowed by the flames. Like the rest of his possessions.

For days, the city and its surroundings have taken on the appearance of « film d’apocalypse »to use the expression of the former champion. The latest report from the authorities shows at least 16 deaths, tens of thousands of people evacuated, more than 12,000 buildings destroyed and 15,000 hectares gone up in smoke in the violent fires ravaging the region. Under the threat of fires, or due to poor air quality, several sporting events have been moved, postponed, or even canceled.

The situation serves as a reminder that southern California is a particularly vulnerable area in the face of climate change. It also rekindled fears about the capacity of the megacity to calmly prepare and host the major international events planned on the calendar, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. A little more than three years before the lighting of the flame , can organizers guarantee the security of sites in a region increasingly exposed to forest fires? How will this disaster affect planning and perception of the event?

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