Key Highlights
- Los Angeles community organizations are urging IOC President Kirsty Coventry to address jobs, housing, Airbnb and ICE-related concerns before the 2028 Olympic Games.
- The groups say they have raised their demands with the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee for four years without receiving concrete responses.
- The IOC has acknowledged the letter but says the demands fall under the authority of the local organizing committee.
Los Angeles Groups Press IOC Over 2028 Olympics Demands
Los Angeles is facing growing pressure over the social and economic impact of hosting the 2028 Olympic Games. Several citizens’ associations have sent a letter to IOC President Kirsty Coventry calling for community improvements, according to The Athletic, as the city prepares to provide extensive services for the event.
The letter outlines four principal demands: guaranteed jobs with guaranteed living wages, investment in housing for working families, an end to the International Olympic Committee’s partnership with Airbnb, and a commitment that the controversial ICE will not operate during the 2028 Games. The signatories include organizations representing thousands of workers in sectors considered essential to the Olympic operation.
Housing, Wages and ICE Concerns
The organizations have specifically criticized ICE’s actions and the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee for not taking initiatives on the issue. They also object to Airbnb’s involvement, arguing that short-term rentals contribute to the housing shortage and make the real estate market less accessible to ordinary Los Angeles residents.
The groups have called for an “Olympic wage” during the Games, which would increase the usual wage by three dollars an hour. They have also criticized Delta Airlines, an Olympic sponsor, for actively opposing the proposal. The wage demand is part of the broader call for employment connected to the Games to provide guaranteed living wages.
Delegation Plans to Attend IOC Meeting
The signatories say they have presented these demands to the Organizing Committee for four years but have not received concrete responses. They now propose taking the issues directly to the IOC meeting in Lausanne on December 13.
A delegation attending the meeting would include hotel, airport and event center workers, teachers, immigrant rights activists and interfaith clergy. The group says the delegation would bring the concerns of workers and communities directly to IOC officials as preparations for Los Angeles 2028 continue.
IOC Points to Local Organizing Committee
The IOC has acknowledged receipt of the letter but indicated, according to The Athletic, that it does not have direct authority over the demands. The organization said responsibility for the issues rests with the local organizing committee.
Why This Matters
The dispute highlights the tension between the global Olympic movement and the local communities expected to host and support the Games. The demands concern employment standards, housing access, short-term rentals, immigration enforcement and the responsibilities of Olympic sponsors. The planned delegation’s appearance in Lausanne could increase pressure on the IOC and the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee to clarify how community concerns will be addressed before the Games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sent the letter to Kirsty Coventry?
Several Los Angeles citizens’ associations sent the letter to Kirsty Coventry, the president of the International Olympic Committee. The signatories include organizations representing workers and community groups.
What are the four demands in the letter?
The groups are seeking guaranteed jobs with guaranteed living wages, investment in housing for working families, an end to the IOC’s partnership with Airbnb, and a commitment that ICE will not operate during the 2028 Olympic Games.
What has the IOC said about the demands?
The IOC has acknowledged receiving the letter but said it has no direct authority over the demands, which it considers the responsibility of the local organizing committee.
