As the Paris 2024 Olympics begin, Eric Sheehan of NOlympics LA fights against hosting the 2028 Games in Los Angeles due to the massive financial burden. Paris’s experience highlights the exorbitant costs and disruptions hosting the Olympics can bring, with 44% of Parisians viewing it negatively.
Sheehan argues that the billions spent on the Games could be better used for public housing and services for the homeless. Despite contractual obligations, he believes the city council could potentially withdraw from hosting, avoiding a hefty fee compared to the overall cost of hosting.
The backlash against the Olympics extends beyond LA, with the 2026 Commonwealth Games also at risk of being cancelled due to cost concerns. Historically, Olympic Games have consistently overspent their initial budgets, with the London 2012 Games costing £13.5 billion, well over the initial estimate of £2.4 billion.
Sheehan’s mission may not succeed, but it reflects a growing global sentiment against hosting costly mega-events like the Olympic Games.