LA 2024 Unveils Track & Field and Aquatics Venues
The Los Angeles 2024 Olympic Bid Committee, LA 2024, has released renderings of a modernized Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and a state-of-the-art aquatics facility on USC’s Dedeaux Field as proposed venues for track and field and three aquatics disciplines for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Both venues demonstrate LA 2024’s commitment to delivering world-class sports facilities with minimal cost and construction, while providing an unforgettable experience for athletes on the world’s greatest stage.
Both the Coliseum and the temporary aquatics venue are located within LA 2024’s visionary Downtown Cluster, which includes state-of-the-art stadiums and arenas like STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater, Galen Center at USC, and Los Angeles Football Club Stadium at Exposition Park.
World-renowned as one of L.A.'s greatest championship venues, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was the site of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and track and field for the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympic Games; hosted Super Bowls I and VII; and is the current home of the USC Trojans football team and the Rams. Beginning in 2018, the iconic stadium is scheduled to undergo a $270 million renovation funded by USC, which will include upgraded sports, training and media facilities plus brand new hospitality facilities.
Working with L.A.-based architecture and engineering firm AECOM, LA 2024 will use leading edge fit-out techniques that will set new standards in temporary transition from football to athletics and back. Warm-up and operations facilities will be housed under the temporary athletics deck, offering maximum convenience for athletes and operational efficiency. The track surface will be removed and the stadium will be returned to USC shortly after the Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony, reducing costs to LA 2024 and minimizing disruption to the college football season.
The latest in high-tech temporary stadium construction and sports entertainment will enable LA 2024 to transform USC’s Dedeaux Field – home of the university’s baseball team – into an elite, purpose-built open-air swimming venue. The adjacent training venue will be the two pools at USC's Uytengsu Aquatics Center (site of the 1984 Olympic swimming competitions), giving swimmers and divers at LA 2024 the unique opportunity to train in an Olympic venue. LA 2024 will build on the innovative sports presentation techniques pioneered at recent U.S. swimming competitions, including this summer’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
LA 2024's aquatics venue was earlier proposed for Exposition Park's new Los Angeles Football Club Stadium, which will now be used for Olympic soccer matches. As part of its planning process and in consultation with international sports federations, LA 2024 will continue to consider venue adjustments prior to submitting its final deliverable to the IOC in February 2017.
LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman said, “Our goal with all of our venue choices has been first and foremost to deliver an excellent field of play and the perfect conditions for the athletic performances of a lifetime. After that, we have tried to create an interesting blend of ultra-modern venues and upgraded iconic sites. We are extremely grateful for the feedback we have received from all of the international sports federations. Their insight has been invaluable in helping us optimize our venue configuration, and every adjustment we have made has been a significant upgrade. LA 2024 is now better placed than ever to deliver the ultimate personalized experience for athletes and every stakeholder of the Olympic Family.”
LA 2024 Vice Chair and Director of Athlete Relations Janet Evans said, “As a swimmer, I’m incredibly excited about being able to offer athletes the chance to perform in the most state-of-the-art competition pool, but also train in an Olympic standard pool. Both our track and field and swimming venues shows the depth of quality sports venues we are lucky enough to have at our disposal here in LA. With our ideal venues, world-class housing facilities and personalized services for athletes, in Los Angeles Olympians and Paralympians will have everything they could possibly need to achieve their dreams.”
“As someone who competed at the Coliseum, I'm excited about LA 2024’s plans for track and field," USA Track & Field President and IAAF Council Member Stephanie Hightower. "Bringing the sport back to an iconic and modernized L.A. Memorial Coliseum would provide all athletes with the perfect setting to perform their best and inspire new, young audiences around the globe to follow and participate in sport.”
USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus said, “I come away more impressed every day with how LA 2024 has combined the city’s history of hosting world-class events with creating state-of-the-art temporary venues that will set a new standard for Olympic hosts. When I look at the aquatics venue, it’s perfect to have the world’s greatest stage in such a stadium and to have the training pool just next door where 1984 Olympic legends Rowdy Gaines, Tracy Caulkins and Mary T. Meagher captivated the world."
