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

Bill: 118-hres-1610
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
Introduced: 2024-12-06
Policy area: Sports and Recreation
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1610 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. Sánchez , Mr. Takano , Ms. Pelosi , Ms. Barragán , Mrs. Torres of California , Mr. Ruiz , Mr. Robert Garcia of California , Mr. Carbajal , Mr. Peters , Mr. Lieu , Mr. Cárdenas , 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

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.