LOS ANGELES, July 15 (Our Los Angeles) — Los Angeles has started the final two-year stretch toward the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the first big call-out is for help.
LA28 opened Games-time volunteer applications on Tuesday, July 14, saying it wants up to 60,000 volunteers to help run the Games. In its announcement, the organizing committee said, “Every great production needs a crew.”
The volunteer rollout matters because these will be the people helping with day-to-day logistics, guest services and other behind-the-scenes work that keeps a major global event moving. LA28 said the Games will take place July 14 to July 30, 2028, for the Olympics and Aug. 15 to Aug. 27, 2028, for the Paralympics.
What is LA28 looking for?
LA28 says volunteer roles will fall into eight categories: communications, driving, experience, medical, ceremonies, operations, sport and technology. The organization says some positions will require specialized skills, including medicine and language translation.
That means the volunteer crew will not be made up of only general helpers. Some roles will be more specialized, while others will focus on making sure spectators, athletes and officials can get where they need to go and find the information they need.
Where will volunteers work?
LA28 says most volunteer opportunities will be in the greater Los Angeles area, but the program will also extend beyond the city. The organizing committee says assignments will reach Oklahoma City and soccer venues in New York, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San José and San Diego.
That reflects how spread out the 2028 Games will be. While Los Angeles is the host city, LA28 says events will be staged across Southern California and at select sites in other parts of the country.
Do people need to have signed up already?
Not necessarily. LA28 said people who already registered interest will get an email with next steps, but anyone can apply even if they never signed up before.
The volunteer application portal was built with Deloitte, according to LA28. The organization also said it will give at least seven days’ notice before the application window closes.
What about community volunteering?
Alongside the Games-time program, LA28 says it is also offering community volunteering opportunities with local organizations in Los Angeles. Those efforts focus on sustainability, restoration and the wellbeing of venue cities, according to the volunteer page.
That gives the volunteer push a local side as well as a Games-time one. For Los Angeles, the program is not just about staffing an event in 2028. It is also about building a network of people who can help with city projects and community work in the years leading up to the Games.
Why does LA28 keep talking about volunteers?
LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover said in a Reuters video that recent World Cup success showed “the power of sport to unite people” and that “volunteers will be a key part of that experience.”
That is the core idea behind the program. At a massive event like the Olympics and Paralympics, volunteers are often the public face of the Games. They help guide visitors, support operations and create the first impression for people arriving from around the world.
For Los Angeles, the launch also marks a milestone. LA28 says the city will become the third to host three Olympic Games, after 1932 and 1984, and these will be Los Angeles’ first Paralympic Games.
For now, the main takeaway is simple: the countdown has begun, and LA28 is asking the city, and the rest of the country, to help staff the 2028 Games.
