Can Los Angeles Refuse to Host the 2028 Olympics and What Consequences Would It Face

With each passing month before the start of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, public debate is gaining momentum. Why does the city have no possibility to withdraw from the host city contract, despite mounting pressure and a series of new threats? Breaking the agreement could result in not only billions of dollars in losses for the metropolis, but also a long-term blow to its reputation. Los Angeles has found itself in a unique historical situation, where the cost of even considering refusing to host the Games is higher than it appears at first glance.

New Challenges for the 2028 Olympics

The Summer Olympics in Los Angeles is facing several serious challenges at once. In January, the city suffered from large-scale wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas, raising concerns about the safety of participants and guests. At the same time, authorities faced a budget deficit reaching 1 billion rubles, and public anxiety is growing due to migration raids and an unstable political environment. Discussions in the media and on social networks are fueled by concerns about possible funding disruptions, environmental risks, and the threat of new emergencies. All these circumstances are making citizens and experts reflect on the fate of the Games and the possibility of the city refusing to host the largest sporting event.

Why Los Angeles Cannot Refuse the Olympics

The key to the impossibility of cancellation is the host city contract with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The document was signed in September 2017 by Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Herb Wesson. The agreement records the obligations of the city, the United States National Olympic Committee, and the LA28 organizers. The contract stipulates that only the IOC has the right to terminate preparations or relocate the Games under exceptional circumstances.

The city does not have the right to unilaterally terminate the contract. Legal mechanisms primarily protect the interests of the IOC, which controls the cancellation procedure and minimizes its own risks. Even serious political disagreements between federal, regional, and city authorities do not give Los Angeles formal grounds to withdraw from the agreement.

Legal and Financial Risks for the City

Any attempt to refuse the Olympics threatens the city with large-scale legal claims. As noted by international arbitration lawyer Nathan O’Malley, terminating the contract without the IOC’s consent virtually guarantees lawsuits and multi-billion dollar compensation payments. Sports economics expert Andrew Zimbalist states that Tokyo risked paying between $4 billion and $5 billion if it had canceled the Games in 2021.

A similar logic applies to Los Angeles. The contract terms stipulate that for failing to fulfill its obligations, the city must compensate not only the IOC’s direct losses but also lost revenues from sponsors and television broadcasts. Arbitration in such cases is handled by the specialized Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where priority is usually given to protecting the interests of international sports organizations.

Historical Precedents: When Cities Tried to Refuse

One of the rare cases of refusal occurred in Denver in 1976. At that time, the city, having won the right to host the Winter Olympics, was forced to withdraw from the Games after rising costs and public protest. Budget changes and environmental concerns led citizens to vote against funding Olympic facilities with public money. The IOC moved the competitions to Innsbruck (Austria).

However, today the situation has changed dramatically. The number of participants has increased more than tenfold, the scale of obligations and the complexity of infrastructure have reached unprecedented heights. Since the 1970s, the rules of the game have changed, and contracts with cities have become as strict and detailed as possible, as Professor Jules Boykoff emphasizes.

The Role of the Federal Government and Political Factors

The U.S. federal authorities play a key role in ensuring security, transportation logistics, and visa support for Olympic guests. Issues of accreditation and admission of foreign athletes and staff are overseen at the highest level. In recent years, instability in federal policy, migration restrictions, and conflicts between city and state officials have raised concerns among organizers.

According to Professor Jules Boykoff, without close cooperation between the municipality and the government, the chances of successfully holding the Games are significantly reduced. LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman has repeatedly emphasized that he received guarantees from the White House of unhindered entry for all participants, despite the tightening of visa policies.

Possibility of Relocating the Games and Searching for Alternatives

The International Olympic Committee reserves the right to relocate the Olympics to another city if the country is in a state of war, mass unrest, or other emergencies. The procedure provides for prior notification of the city and gives 60 days to resolve the problems. However, even in such a scenario, Los Angeles remains obliged to compensate expenses. In modern history, there has not been a single case where such a large-scale event was relocated in such a short time frame.

Building or preparing new infrastructure in another city within three years is practically impossible. Previously, Los Angeles itself was often mentioned among backup venues—for example, during the crisis in preparations for the Paris Olympics in 1924. Today, however, the IOC objectively has no such alternatives.

How Los Angeles Is Preparing for the Games and Minimizing Risks

The LA28 organizers are betting on already existing sports facilities, which allows them to save resources and speed up preparations. According to Michael Payne, former head of marketing at the IOC, Los Angeles’s level of readiness exceeds all previous examples. More than 70% of the targeted $2.5 billion has already been raised through sponsorship agreements. The city is investing significant funds in transportation infrastructure, security, and digital services for guests. A special federal task force coordinates issues of security, visas, and logistics.

Programs for transportation, accreditation, and support of foreign athletes undergo regular stress tests. An important aspect is improving mobile communication and wireless internet. After all, numerous tourists will surely want to have fun using their mobile gadgets. Some will watch high-resolution videos or upload numerous photos. Someone might get bored and decide to play video games. Especially when it comes to big hits like Plinko (a popular game show-style game). As our authors learned here, the popularity of mobile apps with these games has grown significantly. And even such simple games require a stable internet connection.

Analysis of Possible Scenarios

Among the unlikely but theoretically possible scenarios are a large-scale natural disaster, military conflict, or serious security threats. However, even these events do not always provide a formal reason for releasing the city from contractual obligations. According to law professor Maureen Weston, only a decision by the IOC can serve as grounds for canceling or relocating the Games. Experts agree that Los Angeles will retain its status as the capital of the 2028 Olympics, and all risks will be minimized through coordinated actions by the authorities, organizers, and international partners.

Reference Blocks and Explanations

Host City Contract (HCC) is the main legal document between the IOC, the host city, and the National Olympic Committee. The IOC is the International Olympic Committee, which regulates the holding of the Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is the main body for resolving disputes between sports organizations and host cities.

The historical example of Denver showed that refusal is only possible in the absence of strict regulation and with a significantly smaller scale of the event. Modern conditions make such a scenario practically impossible.