Wave Staff and Wire Reports
LOS ANGELES — The Olympic Torch Relay began Sept. 29 in Atlanta, beginning a journey that will see it travel to all 50 U.S. states on its way to Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games starting in spring 2028.
“Every Olympic Games begins with a single flame, and carrying that flame to Los Angeles is an honor and privilege that we’ll share with every corner of the country, as Americans in all 50 states carry the flame on its path to our Opening Ceremony,” LA28 Chairman and President Casey Wasserman announced. “Starting this journey in Atlanta is a tribute to a city with deep Olympic roots … and in the months ahead, we look forward to welcoming even more cities and partners to this historic moment for our country.”
Atlanta was the host city for the last Olympic Games held in the United States, in 1996.
The Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, before making its journey through all 50 U.S. states in spring 2028. The full route for the Torch Relay will be announced in 2027.
The Paralympic Torch Relay will follow the conclusion of the Olympic Games in August 2028, with the flame originating in Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom, the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement. The Paralympic Torch Relay’s U.S. starting location will be announced at a later date.
“Thirty years ago, Atlanta welcomed the world. The 1996 Centennial Olympic Games changed this city. They introduced a modern Atlanta to billionsof people across the globe and proved we could compete on the biggest international stage,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said. “Thirty years later, Atlanta looks a little different. We are bigger. We are more connected to the world. So, when the flame returns to the U.S., Atlanta will be ready.
“Ready to welcome it from Greece. Ready to celebrate the spirit of the Games together as a community. And ready to send it forward toward Los Angeles and the next chapter of America’s Olympic story. Atlanta was proud to carry that flame in 1996. We will be proud to welcome it back,” Dickens added.
The Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays will be sponsored by Coca-Cola, JPMorganChase, Allstate and Xfinity, which will take part in various aspects of the relay, including the designation of select torch bearers and stops at partner locations along the relay route.
Torch bearer nominations will be announced in the coming months. More information can be found at la28.org/en/torch-relays.html.
