LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass today marked the historic installation of the Olympic and Paralympic flags at Los Angeles City Hall alongside Olympic and Paralympic athletes, civic leaders, and LA28. The flag installation ceremony celebrated the return of the Olympic flag for the first time since 1984, and the arrival of the Paralympic flag for the first time, as Los Angeles prepares to host its first-ever Paralympic Games. With a theme of “Games For All,” the mayor pledged to benefit the entire city of Los Angeles through both the preparation for the Games, as well as the legacy that will endure in the decades to come.
EDs: Click here for photo and b-roll of the event including footage of the unveiling of the new exhibits.
“This is a historic day in Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “Our mission, between now and our closing ceremonies, will be to ensure these Games are open to all – so that all Angelenos in every corner of our city benefit from this major, global event, not just during 2028, but starting now and for decades to come.”
The mayor’s top priorities include helping local, small businesses, creating local jobs, and delivering lasting environmental and transportation improvements throughout Los Angeles.
The Olympic and Paralympic flag display is complemented by displays of memorabilia commemorating the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Angelenos from all corners of the City are encouraged to visit the exhibits at Los Angeles City Hall, which will celebrate L.A.’s history as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement through the 100th anniversary of City Hall in 2028.
About the Olympic and Paralympic Flags and Symbols:
THE OLYMPIC FLAG
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received the Olympic flag at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France on August 11, 2024, making history by becoming the first ever Black woman Mayor to receive the Olympic flag at a closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. Mayor Bass received the flag as part of the handover ceremony from International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach and Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who is also the first woman to serve as mayor of Paris. Team USA Gymnast Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, joined Mayor Bass in receiving the flag during the historic moment.
THE OLYMPIC RINGS
Conceived from an original design by Pierre de Coubertin, the Olympic rings were first publicly presented in 1913. In the center of a white background are five interlaced rings of different colors: blue, yellow, black, green and red. In the context of the Games, the Olympic rings made their first appearance on the Olympic flag with its white background at the Games of the VII Olympiad in Antwerp in 1920. In Los Angeles, the rings remind us of LA32, and LA84, when Mayor Bradley hosted a Games that continue to benefit Los Angeles. L.A. looks forward to building on the legacy of the 1932 and 1984 Games in 2028.
THE PARALYMPIC FLAG
The Paralympic flag was presented to Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles, by International Paralympic Committee President, Andrew Parsons as part of the official handover from Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, France on September 8, 2024.
THE AGITOS LOGO
The symbol of the Paralympic Games is made up of three “agitos” in red, blue and green, positioned in a circular formation on a white background. Each agito (Latin for “I move”) symbolizes movement and underlines the role of the International Paralympic Committee to unite athletes from around the world. The Paralympic Symbol, designed by German advertising agency Scholz & Friends in 2003, was officially launched at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.