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L.A.’s Olympic Aspirations

Since its inception, the Olympics has come to mean more than just a worldwide show of physical excellence and sportsmanship. See how the world is responding to the Olympic Games in the time of a pandemic and how Los Angeles navigated its many Olympic turns over the last century.

Entry way for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Deborah Sussman designed the 1984 Olympic logo, drawing inspiration from her travels around the world and highlighting a bright color palette.
The Coliseum during the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles shows the words "Olympic Stadium" on the foreground.
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Lost LA

L.A.'s 1932 Olympics Put the City on a World Stage

A light structure similar to scaffolds were used in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Article
Lost LA

How the Gleeful Aesthetic of L.A.’s 1984 Olympics Unified a Sprawling City

A young woman paints a a mural that says "LA28" with a sunset and palm tree silhouettes
Article
Lost LA

A Look Into the Future: The Los Angeles Olympics in 2028

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Map detailing sporting venues for the 1932 Olympic
Documenting and Preserving L.A.'s Olympic History
A look back at Los Angeles' two turns in the Olympic spotlight.
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An Olympic Mystery at Occidental College
There is a peculiar residence hall at Occidental College that was built for the purpose of housing the Russian team during the 1984 Olympic games. Or was it?
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Japanese Americans and Cultural Pride at the 1932 Olympics
The success of Japanese athletes at the 1932 Olympics offers insight to an interesting issue: do you root for the country you live in or the country you (or your ancestors) come from?
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The First-Ever Olympic Village Was Built in Los Angeles
The 1932 summer Olympic games held in Los Angeles offered a chance for athletes traveling from around the world to experience the very first Olympic Village since the ancient Greeks pitched their tents on the plain of Elis.
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Paul Helms, Avery Brundage and the Great Olympic Bread War
Since the 1932 L.A. Olympics, Helms Bakery in Culver City became the unofficial makers of "Olympic Bread" -- until legal action was taken by the Olympic Committee.
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When the Olympics and L.A. Youth Sports Changed Forever
Thanks to a 1978 city proposition, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics ended with a $232.5 million surplus, which helped fund youth sports organizations throughout the city.
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1984: The Year of Catastrophic Traffic that Never Was
The summer Olympics promised hellish, round-the-clock traffic.
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