LOS ANGELES – The iconic city of Los Angeles, a place synonymous with Olympic triumph and innovation, is poised to etch another historic chapter in sporting history. In less than four years, the Paralympic Games will make their independent debut in the City of Angels, promising not just a spectacle of elite athletic prowess but a profound redefinition of disability and human potential on the global stage. When the Paralympic Games open their doors at the magnificent SoFi Stadium on August 15, 2028, LA28, the organizing committee, is determined to raise the bar for the Paralympic movement, building on a legacy of groundbreaking athletic achievement and societal impact.
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Los Angeles, which fundamentally transformed the Olympic movement by hosting the most commercially successful Games ever in 1984, now sets its sights on leaving an equally indelible and inspiring mark on the Paralympics. This ambition resonates deeply within the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). "In the opening ceremony in two years’ time, we will be about to witness the Paralympic Games that can really put our movement in a higher step," affirmed IPC President Andrew Parsons, "in a higher position as a sport movement." His words underscore the immense expectations placed upon LA28 to deliver an event that not only captivates audiences but also catalyzes a deeper understanding and appreciation for Paralympic sport and its athletes.
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A Storied History: From Patchwork Plans to Global Phenomenon
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The journey of the Paralympic Games in the United States has been marked by both challenges and significant growth, a chronology that highlights the transformative path leading to LA28.
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The "Last-Minute Games" of 1984: While Los Angeles basked in the glory of a commercially successful Olympics in 1984, the Paralympics of that year presented a stark contrast. Instead of being integrated with the Olympic host city, they were split between two vastly different locations: New York and Stoke Mandeville, England. This fragmented arrangement earned them the moniker "Last-Minute Games," a consequence of a U.S.-based organizing committee’s failure to secure adequate funding to host the event at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The logistical nightmare and lack of consolidated vision from that era stand as a powerful reminder of how far the movement has come. The separation not only diminished the profile of the Paralympic athletes but also highlighted a broader societal oversight regarding disability sports.
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The Atlanta Experience of 1996: The last time the Summer Paralympics were held in the United States was in Atlanta in 1996. However, this event, too, faced considerable hurdles. Run by a separate committee from the Olympic organizers, it suffered from disorganization and insufficient publicity. Brent Hardin, an associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Alabama and director of Alabama Adapted Athletics, characterized the event as "underwhelming." This experience served as a crucial lesson, ultimately leading to a pivotal change within the Olympic and Paralympic bidding process.
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The Integrated Future: Joint Bids Since 2002: Recognizing the need for unity and shared resources, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and IPC mandated a significant policy change in 2002. Since then, organizing committees have been required to submit joint bids to host both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, utilizing the same venues, facilities, and infrastructure. This integration has been instrumental in elevating the status of the Paralympics, ensuring they benefit from the same planning, investment, and public attention as their Olympic counterparts. LA28’s bid embodies this integrated approach, promising a seamless and equally grand experience for both events.
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Paris 2024: Setting a New Benchmark: The immediate predecessor to LA28, the Paris 2024 Paralympics, provided a compelling demonstration of the movement’s ascendancy. Paris successfully solidified the Paralympics’ position as one of the largest sporting events globally, achieving unprecedented metrics that underscore its growing appeal and significance. The Games sold a staggering 2.5 million tickets, marking the highest attendance for any Paralympic Games to date. Furthermore, they garnered a record 12,941 global broadcast hours, indicating a substantial increase in media interest and reach. The overall live audience for the Paris Paralympics experienced remarkable growth, expanding by 40% compared to the 2021 Games and a staggering 117% from 2016. This surge in engagement points to a burgeoning global appetite for Paralympic sport and the inspiring stories it tells.
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Supporting Data: A Movement Transcending Sport
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Beyond the impressive viewership and attendance figures, the Paralympics are proving to be a powerful catalyst for changing societal perceptions. A Nielsen Sports study, commissioned by the IPC, revealed a profound impact from the Paris Paralympic Games: a remarkable 73% of people surveyed reported that the event positively changed their attitudes toward people with disabilities. This data highlights the unique ability of the Paralympics to not only entertain but also to educate and foster greater inclusivity.
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LA28 is keenly aware of this momentum and is committed to building upon it. Ileana Rodriguez, the LA28 vice president of Paralympic strategy and relations and a 2012 Paralympic swimmer, articulated this aspiration: "I really would love to see the change of perception of what people with disabilities can do, but also most importantly see the athletes perform. Because oftentimes we forget the sport side of the athletes and put the disability in front, and I really hope that this is reversed in our Games." Her vision encapsulates the core mission of LA28: to foreground the elite athleticism and competitive spirit of Paralympians, shifting the narrative from limitation to extraordinary achievement.
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The elite nature of Paralympic sport is also evidenced by the sheer level of competition. In Paris, a staggering 175 world records and 218 Paralympic records were shattered across 22 sports. IPC President Parsons noted that the quality of performances is better than ever, attributing this to athletes becoming more refined with their training techniques and advancements in adaptive equipment and sports science.
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Brent Hardin further emphasized this point: "If you raise the expectations for what high performance is, for what an athlete is, then gosh, that’s just going to open up so many more opportunities. The Paralympics has the ability to do that like no other sporting event in the world for athletes with disabilities." This elevation of standards inspires not only current athletes but also future generations, demonstrating the vast untapped potential within the disability community.
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Official Responses and Athlete Perspectives: The Pursuit of Elite Performance
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The journey of Paralympic athletes vividly illustrates the demanding standards of the Games. Ali Truwit, a former Yale swimmer, experienced this firsthand. After losing the lower part of her left leg in a shark attack in 2023, Truwit embarked on her own Paralympic awakening. She quickly realized that making the U.S. team for Paris required her to swim faster with one leg than she had with two.
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"A lot of people would come up and say, like, ‘Oh well you could do the Paralympics,’ " Truwit recounted, reflecting on the 15 months between her amputation and the Paris opening ceremony. "I’m like, ‘Well, you can’t just do the Paralympics actually!’ It’s elite and it’s fast." Her words debunk a common misconception, emphasizing the rigorous training, dedication, and talent required to compete at this level.
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Truwit’s achievements speak volumes. Her American record time of 1 minute, 8.98 seconds in the S10 100-meter backstroke at the 2024 U.S. Paralympic swimming trials was faster than the times she achieved to be recruited for Division I collegiate programs. She also holds the U.S. record in the S10 400-meter freestyle (4:31.39) and proudly secured silver medals in both races at her inaugural Paralympic Games. Yet, as she commences training for 2028, Truwit acknowledges that even her national record times might not be sufficient to guarantee a podium finish in Los Angeles, a testament to the continuously escalating competitive landscape.
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Navigating Accessibility: Challenges and Commitments for LA28
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While the spirit of competition and inclusion drives LA28, the logistical complexities of hosting such a monumental event for athletes with disabilities present unique challenges, particularly concerning accessibility. LA28 plans to leverage mostly existing venues for both the Olympics and Paralympics, a strategy designed to mitigate many of the typical headaches faced by previous organizing committees. However, accommodating 4,480 Paralympians in a single village presents a distinct set of requirements.
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UCLA’s Unique Landscape: The Olympic and Paralympic villages will be hosted at UCLA, a campus renowned for its picturesque red brick buildings and lush green lawns. However, it is also notorious for its steep hills, posing a significant accessibility challenge. In 2025, two students who use wheelchairs filed a lawsuit against the university and the UC Board of Regents, citing discrimination due to issues such as frequently out-of-service elevators, insufficient signage, and dangerous conditions on pedestrian paths.
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Ileana Rodriguez acknowledged the campus’s inherent geographical challenges that organizers cannot fundamentally alter. In response, LA28 issued a statement affirming its focus on "building upon UCLA’s existing accessibility foundation while exploring additional modifications and services to support Paralympic athletes and team officials." These planned modifications include temporary ramps and adapted restrooms. Construction is slated to commence this year, with efforts to minimize disruption to normal campus activities. "One solution is not going to solve it for everyone, but a system of different ones hopefully will for most of them," said Rodriguez, an architect who consulted on previous Games before joining LA28. "We’re aiming, of course, for 100% of the users, but it doesn’t mean that there might be challenges in some points." This candid assessment reflects the complex realities of ensuring universal access in an existing urban environment.
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Fan Experience and Information Gaps: Beyond the athlete village, LA28 will need to accommodate millions of fans navigating Southern California. Recent large-scale events, such as the FIFA World Cup, provided valuable insights into the region’s transportation system, which was largely successful but not without its flaws for some fans.
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Kate Scott, founder of Only Everywhere, a directory providing accessibility information for over 400 venues in California, highlighted critical "information gaps." She recounted instances where fans paid hundreds of extra dollars for accessible parking and stadium shuttles, only to later discover free shuttle options were available. Fans also struggled to secure wheelchair-accessible seats, especially when they were resold at exorbitant prices, and frequently couldn’t obtain clear answers about available accommodations within the stadium.
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Scott praised SoFi Stadium for its physical infrastructure, noting working elevators, wheelchair escorts, and accessible seating with clear sightlines on every level. The primary issue, she observed, was a lack of transparent and proactive communication. "It’s not a problem if you say there’s no way to get to the cafe on the second floor. It is a problem if they find that out at the bottom of the stairs," Scott explained. "They can plan ahead if you just give them the information. It’s not about perfection. It’s about telling people what to expect."
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Her research further underscores this systemic issue: of the 400 California venues in Only Everywhere’s directory, more than half publish no online information about accessibility. A mere 7% comprehensively cover accommodations for mobility limitations, hearing disabilities, vision impairment, and sensory disabilities. This data points to a significant opportunity for LA28 to set a new standard for public information dissemination regarding accessibility.
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Implications and Lasting Legacy: Reshaping Perceptions and Empowering Communities
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The ultimate measure of LA28’s success will extend far beyond medal counts and attendance figures. Disability advocates and experts hope the Paralympics will spark tangible, long-term improvements in access to social services and physical structures for people with disabilities, both during and long after the Games conclude.
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Juliann Anesi, an associate professor of gender studies at UCLA and an affiliate faculty member with the disabilities studies department, articulated this broader aspiration: "Not just a one-in-every-four-years kind of event." The hope is that the visibility and focus generated by the Paralympics will catalyze sustained investment in inclusive infrastructure and policies.
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The PlayLA Program: A Blueprint for Future Generations: Echoing the legacy of the 1984 Olympics, which generated a $230-million surplus that funded youth sports in Los Angeles for decades, the 2028 Games have already initiated a powerful legacy program. The PlayLA program has jump-started adaptive sports opportunities, demonstrating a proactive commitment to fostering inclusivity from the grassroots level.
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Run by the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks, PlayLA will feature 12 adaptive sports for the 2026-27 season: adaptive archery, athletics, kayaking, skateboarding, lacrosse, pickleball, para swimming, blind soccer, goalball, para surfing, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair tennis. LA28 projects that the program is on track to achieve 5,000 total adaptive sports program enrollments by 2027, creating a pipeline for future Paralympic talent and, more importantly, providing vital recreational and developmental opportunities for youth with disabilities.
Ali Truwit eloquently summarized the profound societal implications: "LA28 is an opportunity not only to think about people with disabilities as part of (society), but instead to really reshape the conversation around disability, especially in sport… We don’t look at Paralympians as an inspiration or as something where they’re overcoming a limitation, but rather as just part of human diversity and potential." This shift in perspective, from viewing disability through a lens of overcoming to one of celebrating diversity and inherent potential, represents the most transformative legacy LA28 could achieve.
As the halfway mark of the Olympic quadrennial approaches, Ali Truwit’s dreams are firmly fixed on Los Angeles. The Connecticut native envisions the opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium, surrounded by her fellow American Paralympians. That group, she hopes, could even include several athletes who have received grants from her nonprofit, Stronger Than You Think, which aids girls and women experiencing limb loss by providing prosthetics. Being at the Paralympics together, Truwit reflects, "would be a dream."
IPC President Andrew Parsons, whose tenure will culminate with the LA28 Games, envisions a fitting conclusion to his presidency. His expectations for the 2028 Paralympics are clear and ambitious: "The best Paralympic Games," Parsons declared, "ever." With its rich history of innovation, its commitment to inclusivity, and the undeniable power of its athletes, Los Angeles in 2028 stands ready to deliver on that promise, cementing the Paralympic Games as a pinnacle of human achievement and a beacon of hope for a more inclusive world.
© 2026 Los Angeles Times
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