America’s Olympians celebrate

Los Angeles, Sept. 14: US Olympians gathered at iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday to celebrate the confirmation that the city will host the Games for a third time in 2028.

From gymnast Nastia Liukin, who wasn’t born when Los Angeles last hosted the Games in 1984, to swimmer John Naber, who carried the Olympic flag into the Coliseum for the ’84 opening ceremonies, all were confident the Southern California metropolis would again deliver a successful sporting spectacle.

“There may not have been a lot of drama, but there sure was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement when it’s actually real,” said Naber, who won four swimming gold medals at the 1976 Olympics.

Liukin, whose five Olympic medals include gymnastics all-around gold in Beijing in 2008, was among the former Olympians gathered at the Coliseum in anticipation of the vote. “I am excited, I wasn’t born for 1984, but it’s one of my huge inspirations,” the 27-year-old said.

Former Olympic swimmer John Moffet said the vote was “a milestone” but noted it was now time “to really start some hard work. To have 11 years to prepare for it, that’s only an added bonus.”

On Sunday, the Olympic flame will glow again at the Coliseum when IOC President Thomas Bach kindles the cauldron in a post-Lima visit to the 2028 host city. — AFP