The Human Face Of The Olympic Games

Every Olympic Games is remembered for its iconic moments. Athletes break world records. Nations celebrate unexpected victories. Stadiums fill with cheering crowds. Yet behind those headline moments stands an army of volunteers who often become the first and last people visitors encounter during their Olympic experience.

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, volunteers helped create a welcoming atmosphere that remains one of the defining characteristics of those Games. Organizers hope the LA28 Volunteer Crew will carry forward that same spirit when the Olympics return to Southern California after a 44-year absence.

The scale of the operation will be significant. The Olympic volunteer period will run from March through August 2028, while Paralympic volunteers will serve between August and September 2028. Each volunteer will be required to complete a minimum of 10 shifts during one of those periods.

Opportunities Across Multiple Venues And Cities

While most volunteer assignments will be located throughout the greater Los Angeles region, LA28's unprecedented nationwide venue footprint means opportunities will extend well beyond Southern California. Volunteers will also be needed at Olympic competition sites in Oklahoma City, New York, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San José and San Diego.

That geographic reach reflects one of the defining characteristics of LA28. Rather than constructing numerous new venues, organizers are utilizing existing world-class facilities throughout the country, a strategy designed to reduce costs while maximizing available infrastructure. Applicants will have the opportunity to indicate preferred locations during the application process and identify specialized skills that may qualify them for specific assignments. Those assignments could range from guest services and venue operations to more technical roles involving language translation, medical support and athlete services.

For many multilingual applicants or individuals with professional expertise in healthcare, communications or logistics, the Games could provide a unique opportunity to apply their skills on an international stage.

More Than Event Volunteers

The LA28 Volunteer Program did not begin with Games-time recruitment.

The initiative officially launched in 2025 through a partnership with Delta Air Lines and was designed to create volunteer opportunities years before the Olympic flame arrives in Los Angeles. Since its launch, LA28 and Delta have organized more than 25 community service projects throughout the region. Those efforts have included beach cleanups, trail restoration projects, neighborhood beautification initiatives, habitat restoration programs and food-packing events supporting families facing food insecurity.

The approach reflects a broader philosophy embraced by LA28 organizers: using the Games as a catalyst for community engagement long before the Opening Ceremony. Rather than waiting until 2028, LA28 has spent the past year building a volunteer culture throughout Southern California, encouraging residents to participate in service projects that produce immediate local impact. As Games preparations accelerate, that community-focused mission will continue alongside recruitment for Games-time volunteers.

A Legacy Beyond Competition

Volunteer programs have become one of the most enduring legacies of Olympic and Paralympic host cities.

Many volunteers develop lifelong friendships through their service. Others gain valuable professional experience, networking opportunities and a deeper connection to their communities. For Los Angeles, the program also represents an opportunity to showcase the region's diversity and hospitality to millions of visitors and billions of television viewers worldwide. The city is expected to welcome athletes from more than 200 nations and territories during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Volunteers will help shape many of those visitors' first impressions of Southern California.

Their interactions may last only a few minutes, but collectively they help define the atmosphere of the Games. The significance of that role is not lost on organizers. When spectators arrive at venues, seek directions, navigate transportation systems or need assistance finding their seats, volunteers are often the people they turn to first. When athletes need guidance, translation support or logistical assistance, volunteers frequently provide those services as well.

In many respects, volunteers become the public face of the Olympic and Paralympic movement.

July 14 Marks A Major LA28 Milestone

The opening of volunteer applications comes exactly two years before the Olympic Opening Ceremony and signals another major milestone in LA28's preparations. Venue plans continue to advance. Operational testing is increasing. Workforce recruitment is expanding. Now, organizers are turning their attention toward assembling the thousands of people who will help transform those plans into reality.

As Los Angeles prepares to welcome the world once again, LA28's message is clear: the road to the Games is no longer just for athletes. Beginning July 14, it is open to anyone willing to serve.