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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1610 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1610

 Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the LA84 Foundation and of the 
         1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 6, 2024

 Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Bera, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. 
  Sherman, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Correa, Ms. Crockett, Mr. Costa, Mr. 
   Panetta, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Porter, Mr. 
Mullin, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Takano, Ms. Pelosi, Ms. Barragan, Mrs. Torres 
of California, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Robert Garcia of California, Mr. Carbajal, 
  Mr. Peters, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Cardenas, and Ms. Lofgren) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the LA84 Foundation and of the 
         1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.

Whereas the city of Los Angeles had the distinct honor of hosting the XXIII 
        Olympiad from July 28 to August 12, 1984, marking a transformative 
        moment in the history of international sports, media, and technology, 
        setting a new standard for future Olympic events, and immortalizing a 
        defining moment in Olympic history and in the history of Los Angeles;
Whereas Los Angeles also hosted the 1932 Olympic Games, and the 1984 Summer 
        Olympic Games were the first privately financed Games, bringing 
        innovation to Olympic financing, which resulted in a historic 
        $233,000,000 surplus that contributed to the creation of the LA84 
        Foundation, an organization that has since invested in youth sports 
        programs, infrastructure, and public education, advocating for the role 
        of sports in positive youth development, particularly in underserved 
        communities, thereby leaving a lasting legacy of access to athletic 
        opportunities for all, by fostering the athletic and academic 
        development of future generations, exemplified by such prominent 
        athletes as Russell Westbrook and Venus and Serena Williams who 
        participated in LA84 Foundation-funded programs;
Whereas the LA84 Foundation is celebrating 40 years of impact as a legacy of the 
        1984 Olympic Games, as the LA84 Foundation was founded with a portion of 
        the financial surplus from the 1984 Games to provide access to sport and 
        play to kids by investing in local communities;
Whereas the LA84 Foundation has supported 4,000,000 youth, trained 200,000 
        coaches, built or refurbished 400 fields, pools, and courts, and funded 
        2,500 nonprofit partners over the last 4 decades, continuing to remove 
        barriers and expand resources to ensure all young people have access to 
        the transformative power of sports, play, and movement regardless of 
        their background;
Whereas the LA84 Foundation has supported youth programming in the 8 southern 
        California counties of Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San 
        Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura;
Whereas the LA84 Foundation also houses one of the world's foremost Olympic 
        libraries, the LA84 Sports Library, on its campus to cultivate greater 
        understanding of the value of physical activity and competition, with 
        unique digital assets including research, oral histories, news, and 
        scholarly journals;
Whereas the 1984 Olympic Games showcased the strength of diversity by welcoming 
        140 nations to Los Angeles, including the first appearance of China at 
        the Summer Games since 1952, becoming a symbol of unity, and overcoming 
        political tensions during the Cold War era, including the Soviet-led 
        boycott of the Games;
Whereas the city of Los Angeles, renowned for its vibrant cultural diversity, 
        hosted nearly 7,000 athletes, including iconic figures like Carl Lewis, 
        who matched Jesse Owens' record by securing 4 gold medals in track and 
        field, and Mary Lou Retton, the first American woman to win an Olympic 
        all-around gymnastics title, thus inspiring a generation of young 
        athletes, particularly women and girls;
Whereas the 1984 Olympics Games broke new ground for women's sports, including 
        the introduction of the women's Olympic marathon, in which Joan Benoit 
        made history by winning the gold medal, further symbolizing the growing 
        inclusivity and recognition of women's achievements in global athletics;
Whereas millions of people around the world watched these athletes participate, 
        demonstrating the global appeal of the Olympic movement and the 
        resilience of the host city amidst a politically charged global 
        landscape, and demonstrating the enduring power of sport to unite and 
        inspire athletes and fans across the globe;
Whereas the 1984 Summer Olympic Games revolutionized global sports broadcasting, 
        thanks in part to the historic partnership between the Los Angeles 
        Organizing Committee and the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), which 
        brought unprecedented worldwide viewership, celebrating the power of 
        sport to connect people across continents;
Whereas this entrepreneurial spirit and strategic foresight not only ensured the 
        financial viability of the Games, but also laid the foundation for the 
        sustainable growth of future sporting events such as the upcoming 2026 
        World Cup, 2026 NBA All-Star Game, 2027 Super Bowl LXI, and 2028 Olympic 
        Games, all hosted in Los Angeles;
Whereas, behind the scenes, the tireless efforts of the LA Olympic Organizing 
        Committee staff and 33,500 volunteers brought the vision of the 1984 
        Olympic Games to life, from coordinating logistics to providing 
        hospitality, leaving an indelible impression on athletes and spectators 
        alike;
Whereas the cultural impact of the 1984 Olympic Games was profound, as Los 
        Angeles, with its diverse communities and rich heritage, took center 
        stage and celebrated its unique identity on a global platform through 
        vibrant performances, art exhibitions, food, and cultural events, 
        fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation;
Whereas the Olympic Games transformed Los Angeles into an international sporting 
        capital, utilizing existing venues such as the Los Angeles Memorial 
        Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, and Dodger Stadium, all of which remain central 
        to the city's identity, and inspiring the city's successful bid to host 
        the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic Games;
Whereas the Games set new records for attendance and viewership, with over 
        5,700,000 tickets sold and more than 180,000,000 Americans tuning in, 
        making the 1984 Summer Olympic Games the most watched event in 
        television history at that time;
Whereas the 1984 Olympic Games were not only a celebration of athletic 
        excellence but also an opportunity to uplift Black and brown communities 
        in Los Angeles, particularly through the creation of jobs, investments 
        in local businesses, and community-focused arts and sports programming;
Whereas these Games represented a pivotal moment for professional athletes' 
        inclusion, signaling the evolving relationship between amateurism and 
        professionalism in international sports, and leading to iconic future 
        Olympic moments such as the 1992 ``Dream Team'' in basketball;
Whereas the achievements of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games are inextricably 
        linked to the contributions of thousands of volunteers, community 
        leaders, local businesses, and public officials who worked together to 
        ensure its success, highlighting the strength and unity of the people of 
        Los Angeles;
Whereas the success of the 1984 Summer Games played a pivotal role in promoting 
        travel to and throughout the United States, advancing the visibility of 
        the Nation on the global stage, and providing opportunities to bolster 
        sport and cultural diplomacy efforts, and showcasing Los Angeles as a 
        global city capable of hosting events that bring together nations in the 
        spirit of peace, competition, and understanding;
Whereas the 1984 Summer Games set a high standard for the upcoming 2028 Summer 
        Olympic Games, again to be held in Los Angeles, California, inspiring 
        future generations to uphold the Olympic ideals of excellence, 
        inclusion, and unity, while ensuring a positive and lasting impact for 
        the city and its diverse communities; and
Whereas the legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games continues to inspire the next 
        generation of leaders and athletes, while reinforcing the values of 
        equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all, especially for the Black and 
        brown youth in our communities who, through increased access to the 
        arts, education, and sports, are empowered to dream and achieve: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That Congress--
            (1) recognizes and commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 
        LA84 Foundation and of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los 
        Angeles, California, honors the impact of the LA84 Foundation 
        over the last 40 years and honors the athletes of Team USA and 
        the organizers of the Games for their achievements, and 
        celebrates the enduring legacy of these Games, which continue 
        to inspire advancements in sports, technology, equity, and 
        global unity; and
            (2) celebrates the LA84 Foundation and the city of Los 
        Angeles for its enduring contributions to the Olympic movement, 
        its leadership in sports diplomacy and play equity, and its 
        ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable society 
        through sport, arts, and culture.
                                 <all>
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