Long Beach at Risk of Losing 2028 Olympic Sailing Events to San Pedro

The city of Long Beach may lose its role as the host of the sailing events for the 2028 Olympic Games, following a decision by the Los Angeles City Council to approve a motion relocating the venue to San Pedro.

Last Friday, the council voted 14-0 in favor of adjusting multiple venues for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, as requested by the LA28 organizing committee. The approval included three amendments one requiring an economic impact study, another clarifying events at the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, and a third mandating the shift of sailing events from Long Beach’s Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier to the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro.

Councilmember Tim McOsker, who represents San Pedro, championed the amendment, making a passionate case for the venue change. He argued that San Pedro offers superior wind conditions, improved safety, and better financial prospects for the Games.

“The winds are better and more consistent in San Pedro,” McOsker asserted, emphasizing that relocating the event would enhance the experience for athletes and spectators alike. He also criticized the lack of transparency in previous venue decisions, demanding more concrete financial justifications for keeping the event in Long Beach.

Despite the amendment passing by a 12-2 vote and being incorporated into the broader venue plan, uncertainty remains. Just days later, McOsker introduced a new motion after LA28 issued a press release that omitted any reference to the council’s condition of approval regarding the sailing venue.

His follow-up motion directs the city’s Chief Legislative Analyst, City Attorney, and other officials to report back within a week on key legal and logistical questions. These include whether LA28 has accepted the council’s decision, the city’s authority in venue disputes, and options for mediation or arbitration if disagreements persist.

The motion has been sent to the City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, chaired by Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, one of the two councilmembers who opposed the sailing venue change.

Complicating matters, LA28 already has an agreement with the City of Long Beach, signed in May 2024, granting access to the Belmont Pier for the event. Additionally, the 2021 LA28-City of Los Angeles Games Agreement outlines a formal arbitration process for dispute resolution, which could become a decisive factor if tensions escalate.

With the issue now heading to committee and potentially drawing in World Sailing—the sport’s international governing body—and even the International Olympic Committee, the battle over the 2028 Olympic sailing venue appears far from over. LA28 has yet to comment on the controversy.