Los Angeles is beginning the countdown to the 2028 Summer Olympics in true Hollywood fashion.
Following Sunday’s 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony, Venus Williams will host the ‘Countdown to LA28’ handover celebration with a star-studded lineup of performers, both of which will air live and in primetime on NBC and Peacock.
H.E.R. will perform the national anthem live from Paris for the closing ceremony, followed by performances from Billie Eilish, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and LA native Snoop Dogg, who is winding down his NBC hosting gig at the Paris Olympics. Special guests include Carl Lewis, Sugar Ray Leonard, Brenda Villa and Rudy Garcia-Tolson, as well as Team USA Olympians Jagger Eaton, Kate Courtney and Michael Johnson.
“This is the biggest moment in LA28 history to date, as the Olympic flag passes from Paris to LA,” said LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman. “We are thrilled to feature the very best of LA with local artists and are grateful to Billie, H.E.R., the Chili Peppers and Snoop for their collaboration on what will be an incredible show to a global audience that will give fans a taste of what’s to come in 2028.”
Molly Solomon, executive producer and president of NBC Olympics Programming, added, “The countdown to LA28 begins with the Paris Closing Ceremony. As we conclude one of the most spectacular Games ever, Paris will hand over the Olympic flag to Los Angeles, who gets things started with a powerhouse lineup of musical superstars that will rock the world. But the party doesn’t stop there. After the Closing Ceremony, LA28 is inviting America to watch the world’s biggest beach party on NBC and Peacock.”
Produced by Fulwell 73 with creative director Ben Winston, the celebration will feature additional surprise guests, a sneak peek into the LA28 Games and behind-the-scenes footage of the LA28 Handover.
Winston said, “The LA28 Handover promises to showcase the heartbeat of LA — which like the Olympics — is where people come from all over the world to pursue their dreams. We hope to showcase a collection of Los Angeles stories – featuring the city’s people, creativity, music and of course sport, all wrapped up with a little Hollywood magic – to invite the world into the LA28 Games.”
Meanwhile, Tom Cruise is expected to make a bold entrance at Sunday’s closing ceremony with LA Mayor Karen Bass on-hand to receive the Olympic flag from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.