
Los Angeles is ablaze, and the Olympic flame is unfortunately not the cause. The City of Angels has been in the grip of huge fires for a week. More than 15.000 hectares have gone up in smoke and 24 deaths have been reported. The toll is not definitive. Despite the colossal efforts of the emergency services, several dozen people are still missing and the region is still on alert due to the winds forecast, likely to push the fire. The disaster is obviously a concern three years before the Olympic Games, raising a number of questions about how the event could be impacted.
The specter of an “uninsurable” event
The flames did not reach the sites intended to host the Olympic events, but they came dangerously close to the Riviera Country Club, designated for golf, the Sepulveda urban park, which will host archery, BMX and skateboarding, as well as the campus of the prestigious UCLA university, where the Olympic village will be installed. No damage at that level, therefore, but fears. "In many ways, this is a wake-up call., warns Iris Stewart-Frey, professor of environmental sciences at Santa Clara University, from the BBC. Even places as innovative and resourceful as Los Angeles are not immune to climate change. These fires underscore that wherever we are, we must prepare for weather and climate events unlike any we have ever seen in human history.
The risk will logically be high during the Games, in the middle of summer, with the combination of heat and drought. More than 3,5 million hectares have been destroyed by flames in the Golden State since 2020. And who says risk, says insurance… Except that the scale of such a threat is enough to put the chills on any insurer. That won't do the organizers any favors, who could then find themselves without a safety net. Paris 2024 had already had to deal with the nervousness of the players in the sector following the Covid-19 pandemic: faced with refusals, the organization had therefore moved forward without cancellation insurance.
A new Marshall Plan
Once the fires are completely under control, which is not yet the case, the local authorities will begin the immense reconstruction project. With a countdown in mind, hoping to be able to present the city to the world in its most beautiful light in 2028 and make people forget the apocalyptic images. “We’re already doing a Marshall Plan. We already have a team tasked with reimagining LA 2.0, and we’re making sure everyone is included. " said California Governor Gavin Newsom, on NBC SundayThe elected official wants to see in this ordeal “an opportunity to shine” for the country, California and its people.
The IOC, which communicated through the voice of Thomas Bach, did not wish to project itself that far ahead. "We stand in full solidarity with the citizens of Los Angeles and are filled with admiration for the tireless work of the firefighters and security forces. Right now, all attention must be focused on fighting fires and protecting people and property.", the IOC president explained, assuring that the medals of five-time Olympic swimming champion Gary Hall Jr., destroyed by the fire, would be replaced. The LA28 organizing committee also expressed its support for the residents and thanked all those fighting the flames, emphasizing the resilience of Californians. It has not communicated since this message published on January 10, deliberately remaining in the background while the battle against the fires continues. Sport will have to wait.