The delegation from Los Angeles will examine how the city of Paris is preparing for the Olympic Games. (photo by Karen Villalpando)

Mayor Karen Bass led a delegation of civic leaders to the City of Light on March 6 to meet with officials in Paris about its preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games, and to help prepare Los Angeles for hosting the Olympics in 2028.

The delegation, which will return on March 10, includes Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian, 2nd District; Councilwomen Katy Yaroslavsky, 5th District, and Traci Park, 11th District; Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins; LA84 Foundation president and CEO Renata Simril; and Priscilla Cheng, senior vice president for government relations at LA28. Krekorian, Yaroslavsky and Park are members of council’s Ad Hoc Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Park and Yaroslavsky serve as chair and vice chair, respectively. Krekorian was a member of the ad hoc committee when the host city contract was signed in 2017.

“The city of Los Angeles must be prepared to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This trip is vital to that preparation while generating business development and learning from innovative housing, green transportation and infrastructure projects,” Bass said. “If we wait until the opening ceremonies to be on the ground in Paris, we miss a crucial opportunity to learn from the city of Paris during their preparations to welcome the world this summer, and this trip will allow us to fully immerse ourselves in the Olympic and Paralympic planning process in order to generate growth for Los Angeles.”

“Paris has effectively used the Olympic Games as a catalyst for reaching their sustainability and transportation goals, and I am looking forward to learning how we can replicate that success here in Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 games,” Yaroslavsky said.

The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris start on July 26. The Los Angeles delegation will focus on business development, creating innovative housing, green transportation and infrastructure. Members will meet with French officials, dignitaries and business leaders, including Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Hidalgo has been mayor of Paris since 2014 and is the first woman to hold the office. The trip marks the first meeting between mayors Bass and Hidalgo. Bass has been invited to have an official role alongside Hidalgo during the closing ceremonies of the Paris Olympic Games.

The group will also meet with United States Ambassador to France and Monaco Denise Campbell Bauer, who will host the group at a celebration of sports, diversity and inclusion at her official residence.

Additionally, the delegation will engage with French companies in the transportation, sustainability, sports and technology sectors and discuss possible investment in Los Angeles. Business France, an agency of the French Government with a mission to foster the business relationships, opened an office in Los Angeles in January.

The delegation will join representative CEO Jean-Marie Tritant of retail giant Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to see firsthand Westfield’s plans during the Paris 2024 Games. Members plan to visit a Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s retail site to consider ways to generate economic growth for Los Angeles.

The delegation will also focus on homelessness and housing development, touring La Fabrique de la Solidarité and meeting with the Paris Homelessness Assistance Unit to learn about the city’s response strategy. Members will visit the Athlete’s Village outside of Paris, which will be transformed into housing. On March 8, Bass will participate in a conference and luncheon hosted by Hidalgo honoring women leaders and advocates.

“Thank you to Mayor Hidalgo and Ambassador Bauer for having us in Paris, and to mayors Mathieu Hanotin of Saint-Denis and Karim Bouamrane of Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine for showing us the projects shaping your communities ahead of the 2024 Games.”