The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics torch relay will commence in Atlanta, the host of the last U.S. Summer Games in 1996, and traverse through all 50 states, as per organizers’ announcement on Tuesday. The Olympic flame will be ignited in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, before embarking on its journey across the United States in the spring of 2028. The complete route for the torch relay will be revealed in 2027.
LA28 coordinators have stated that the relay will be among the largest in Olympic history, encompassing renowned landmarks, making stops at significant cultural and sporting events, and featuring festival celebrations in selected cities across the nation. Casey Wasserman, LA28 chair and president, expressed, “Every Olympic Games starts with a single flame, and it is an honor to carry that flame to Los Angeles, a privilege we will share with every corner of the country as Americans from all 50 states pass the flame en route to our Opening Ceremony.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens remarked that the city is honored to welcome back the Olympic flame after 32 years since hosting the centennial Summer Games. Dickens stated, “Atlanta has evolved. We have grown larger and become more globally connected. When the flame returns to the U.S., Atlanta will be prepared to receive it, celebrate the Games’ spirit as a community, and pass it forward towards Los Angeles, marking the next chapter of America’s Olympic legacy.”
Following the conclusion of the Olympics in August 2028, the Paralympic torch relay will kick off, originating in Stoke Mandeville, England, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. The starting location in the U.S. for the Paralympic torch relay will be announced at a later date.
Coca-Cola, JPMorganChase, Allstate, and Xfinity will sponsor both torch relays.