Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2025

LOS ANGELES, CA – The LA28 Organizing Committee today unveiled its boldest plan yet for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games: the "Catalyst Games," a radical initiative designed to leverage the natural landscape of Southern California in unprecedented ways. In a stunning departure from tradition, the committee announced that the Olympic Opening Ceremony will take place entirely on a floating, custom-built stage off the coast of Santa Monica Pier, making it the first ocean-based opening ceremony in history.

The initiative aims to redefine the Olympic experience by eliminating all land-based traffic for the opening event, with spectators viewing from surrounding beaches via massive holographic projections and a fleet of zero-emission watercraft. "We are eliminating the stadium entirely for the opening night," stated LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman. "This is a future-forward, sustainable vision that showcases the natural beauty of our coastline and leverages cutting-edge technology. The ocean is our stadium for the opening act." The "Catalyst Games" will also feature the Olympic flame arriving not via a traditional runner, but delivered via a fully autonomous, solar-powered submersible, further emphasizing the organizing committee’s commitment to innovation and environmental consciousness.