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LA28 opens volunteer applications as Los Angeles begins two-year Olympic countdown

LA28 has opened volunteer applications for up to 60,000 roles at the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, starting the Los Angeles countdown.

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Clapperboard in the foreground as a diverse team of athletes and volunteers pose on a studio set with sports gear and assistive devices in the background.

LOS ANGELES, July 15 (Our Los Angeles) — Los Angeles organizers have opened Games-time volunteer applications for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, kicking off the city’s two-year countdown to the event.

LA28 said Tuesday, July 14, that it is seeking up to 60,000 volunteers for its Volunteer Crew. The private organizing committee said the application portal was built with Deloitte.

Why volunteers matter

LA28 said volunteers will help power the Games in a wide range of roles, from communications and driving to ceremonies, operations, sport, technology and experience-related jobs. The organization said some positions will require specialized skills, including medicine and language translation.

In a news release, LA28 said, “Every great production needs a crew.”

Reuters quoted LA28 chief executive Reynold Hoover as saying recent World Cup success showed “the power of sport to unite people” and that “volunteers will be a key part of that experience.”

Where volunteers will be needed

LA28 said most volunteer opportunities will be in the Los Angeles area, but some assignments will extend beyond the city. The organization said volunteer needs also will include Oklahoma City and soccer venues in New York, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San José and San Diego.

The Games themselves are scheduled for July 14-30, 2028, for the Olympics and Aug. 15-27, 2028, for the Paralympics. LA28 says the Los Angeles Games will make the city the third to host three Olympic Games, following 1932 and 1984, and the first to host a Paralympic Games.

What the application rollout means

LA28 said people who had already expressed interest will get an email with next steps, but anyone can apply, even if they did not register earlier. The organization also said it will give at least seven days’ notice before applications close.

Secondary coverage from AP, Reuters, NBC Sports and other outlets said Olympic volunteer service is expected to run from March through August 2028, with Paralympic service from August through September 2028.

Community volunteering is also part of the plan

Alongside Games-time roles, LA28 is also promoting community volunteering tied to local organizations in Los Angeles. The volunteer page says those efforts focus on sustainability, restoration and the wellbeing of venue cities.

For Los Angeles, the rollout marks the start of a major recruiting push for the staff-like volunteer force that will support the biggest sporting event the city has hosted in decades.

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Jessie Mendez

Jessie Mendez is a senior national sports reporter for Times Media Service, based in the Houston bureau. Mendez covers sports nationwide, from high school athletics and college commitments to professional leagues, international competition and the business of sports. Mendez holds a master's degree in journalism and multimedia communication and grew up in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Write to Jessie