In brief
On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new state “strike team” to manage California’s role in hosting the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The team, led by Deputy Chief of Staff Jamie Callahan, will coordinate more than a dozen agencies, security plans, and workforce initiatives to deliver lasting benefits to residents. The move comes amid a $7.2 billion Games budget and an emphasis on infrastructure upgrades and regional economic opportunity.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday that he had signed an executive order creating a state coordination team—dubbed a “strike team”—to oversee preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
In the statement released by the governor’s office, Newsom named Jamie Callahan, his deputy chief of staff and senior counselor on infrastructure, as the executive director of the Games’ delivery and coordination strike team.
The team will bring together more than a dozen state agencies and departments to strengthen statewide planning and readiness for the Games, the letter said, and will also support regional efforts to expand workforce and economic opportunities.
"California knows how to deliver on the world stage," Newsom told reporters. "With the Olympics and Paralympics coming to Los Angeles in 2028, we’re making sure our state is ready to meet the moment."
The Los Angeles Times reported that the Games are projected to cost 7.2 billion U.S. dollars and that the city is responsible for upgrading its transportation infrastructure to accommodate the influx of visitors. The governor’s office said California has already taken steps to support the city’s preparations, including infrastructure investments to strengthen the region’s transportation networks and modernize major venues; projects that are intended to benefit residents after the competitions end.
Security planning will involve multiple levels of government. The California Office of Emergency Services will help coordinate police assistance from across California and the western United States, while the U.S. Secret Service holds ultimate security authority, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The announcement follows legislation that Newsom signed in September to strengthen public safety coordination and address operational needs of the Games. The Los Angeles Olympics are scheduled for July 14‑30, 2028, followed by the Paralympics on Aug. 15‑27, according to the Olympics’ official website. Los Angeles previously hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984.
