The 2028 Olympics are still a few years away, but here in LA, the build-up has already begun. With early planning and street changes coming, USC students and locals are starting to imagine what it’ll be like when the Games are in their city.
For Saba Tarvirdzadeh, a first-year grad student in biomedical engineering, having the Olympics so close feels surreal.
“I’m happy that it’s an opportunity—you can go and see if you really like the sport. You don’t have to travel to Paris or something, it’s not that far. But I’m also concerned, I can already see them changing the streets, making up bike lanes, and sometimes I feel like it makes more traffic at the same time. But overall, I think it’s a good thing to happen here,” said Tarvirdzadeh.
And if there’s an event she’s interested in, she’s open to going.
“Yeah, if I can find a game or event that I’m excited about, I would go,” said Tarvirdzadeh.
Junior global health major Neha Parmar is thinking about the long-term impact on the city.
“I think it’ll be good for the economy. Public health-wise and infrastructure-wise, I think it’ll create some jobs and stuff as well,” said Parmar.
Sophomore Mia Haile, who’s studying public policy, is excited about the Games, and already knows what event she’s watching.
“I think it’s so cool that it’s going to be in LA, and I would love to stop by if I can,” said Haile.
She is interested in seeing the high flyers.
“I was a gymnast throughout middle school, so I’m definitely interested in that.”
The Games are also a spectacle to prospective students. High school senior Tim Secor is visiting USC from Connecticut and just got into the Marshall School of Business. He is excited that the Olympics will take place during his junior year.
“It’s a cool feeling,” added Secor. “It’ll be cool to see all the Olympians here.”
He’s especially looking forward to a specific sport and athlete.
“I’m really excited for golf. Like Scottie Scheffler winning the Olympic gold medal last year, and hopefully see that,” said Secor.
First year animation and digitization student Logan De Mesa, has a personal motive for attending the Games as his older brother once competed in the Junior Olympics.
“My brother did hurdles. I also started watching other people”
Now, he’s looking forward to seeing these athletes compete at the LA Coliseum, just a few blocks from campus.
While the excitement is real, there are still some concerns about what the Games might bring to LA’s already crowded streets and neighborhoods.
Melvin Marroquin, a special education administrator living in LA, says the economic boost could be great, but it won’t come without challenges.
“Obviously it’s good for business, good for the local economy,” said Marroquin. “But once the intensity of having that many people here sets in, I’m sure there’ll be some other problems that come up.”
Despite possible issues, he’s open to attending.
“If it’s not incredibly expensive or super hard to get tickets, I’d definitely check something out,” added Marroquin.
And he knows which events are at the top of his list.
“Probably the running events, relay races, sprints. I’d go for those,” said Marroquin.
With events just blocks from campus, USC students won’t just be watching the Olympics, they’ll be living right in the middle of it. For many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the Games in their own city, right outside their classroom.