As the Summer Olympics in Paris concluded, the world began looking ahead to the next Games, which will open in Los Angeles on July 14, 2028.
The next Olympiad marks the third time that the Olympics will be held in Southern California.
In 1932, during the Great Depression, the Summer Games were held in Los Angeles for the first time, introducing a generation around the world to the beauty and diversity of Southern California.
There were plans to host the Winter Olympics in the local mountains that year as well, with Wrightwood vying to play host. But those plans fell through with the economic downturn.
Of the five times that the United States has hosted the Summer Olympics, three have been in the Southland. The others were in St. Louis in 1900 and Atlanta in 1996.
In 1984, as most local Baby Boomers will remember fondly, the games returned to the Southland. Though Orange County has never directly hosted the games, many events have been held in the county.
The first manmade rowing course in the United States was created through the dredging of Los Alamitos Bay, between Seal Beach and Long Beach. Though these efforts began in 1923, they were accelerated to host the rowing competitions at the 1932 Games.
Plans are in the works for the site to again be used for the rowing events in 2028.
The Anaheim Convention Center, built in 1967, hosted the wrestling competition during the 1984 Games. The modern pentathlon was held in the then-new South County town of Coto de Caza, and the swimming component of the five-part competition was held at the Heritage Park Aquatic Center in Irvine.
The streets of Mission Viejo and even portions of the 91 Freeway were used as a cycling track. Titan Gym at Cal State Fullerton hosted the handball competition.
Plans are still being finalized for 2028, but it has already been reported that the indoor volleyball competition will be held at Honda Center.
We can also expect that some long-distance events may make their way across county lines, much as they did in 1984. And, of course, Huntington Beach is the most likely location for surfing.