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LA Olympics: Visa Woes and Pricey Tickets Slammed
3 Feb
Summary
- LA 2028 organizers discussed visa issues with the IOC.
- Ticket prices are reportedly 17% higher than Paris 2024.
- The US State Department is designing a special visa system.
Organizers of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games reported on progress, but faced significant scrutiny from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding entry visa processes and ticket pricing. Several IOC members expressed concerns about simplifying visa access for the large numbers of athletes, officials, media, and fans expected to attend the Games in the United States.
In response to visa concerns, Gene Sykes, chairman of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, stated that organizers are working closely with the U.S. State Department to implement a specialized visa system. He also mentioned that upcoming events, like the FIFA World Cup, would serve as smaller-scale trials for this process.
IOC members also highlighted that ticket prices for the LA 2028 Games are considerably higher than those for the Paris 2024 Olympics. LA Games chief Casey Wasserman explained that with no federal funding, sponsorships and ticket sales are the sole revenue streams, necessitating higher prices, though he noted they are only 17% above Paris on average.
