Officials Are Optimistic About Recouping Much of This Through Reimbursements if the Games Are Successful
Santa Monica is nearing an agreement to host beach volleyball during the 2028 Summer Olympics, bringing the sport back to its birthplace.
City officials are close to finalizing negotiations with LA28, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, despite concerns about potential financial losses.
Hosting beach volleyball could cost the city more than $12 million, according to a city report, though officials are optimistic about recouping much of this through reimbursements if the Games are successful.
“We think we are very close to addressing all the outstanding issues,” Santa Monica City Manager David White told the Los Angeles Times, ahead of a City Council meeting scheduled for October 8, where public comment will be heard. White noted that the timing is appropriate to present the potential agreement to the council, which must weigh the benefits of direct involvement against financial risks.
Despite the financial risks, Santa Monica officials emphasize the potential cultural and economic benefits of hosting Olympic events.
The city has been in negotiations with LA28 to host the sport’s Olympic events at a temporary 12,000-seat stadium on the sand near the Santa Monica Pier. However, challenges remain. The City Council must decide whether to move forward with signing a Games Agreement that outlines Santa Monica’s responsibilities for municipal services and venue logistics, among other duties.
The agreement also notes that LA28 will reimburse the city for certain costs, although the exact amounts remain uncertain.
Santa Monica has a rich history with beach volleyball, which first emerged on its shores in the 1940s.
A variation of sand volleyball first occurred on Santa Monica beaches, with the first beach volleyball tournament taking place in 1947 and the first circuit launched in the 1950s, involving hundreds of players on California beaches, according to the Paris 2024 Olympic website.
The sport made its 1996 Olympic debut at the Atlanta Games. The U.S. and Brazil have stood out as strong Olympic contenders in the sport, with a shared 24 medals (10 golds) from a potential of just 42. In the 2020 Tokyo games, gold medalist volleyball players were U.S. player Alexandra Klineman for women’s and Anders Berntsen Mol of Norway for men’s.
