LA28 officials marked the two-year countdown to the opening ceremony of the 2028 Olympic Games on Tuesday by opening applications for a volunteer program and hosting a community cleanup event in Griffith Park.
Organizers said they expect to recruit as many as 60,000 volunteers to support Olympic and Paralympic events in Los Angeles and at venues across the United States during the 2028 Games.
LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover and 1984 Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis took part in the event at Griffith Park’s Fern Canyon Trail.
The organization also announced that Lewis, who won four gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, has been named an official ambassador for the volunteer program.
“I know what it means to compete on the world’s biggest stage, and I know firsthand that the magic of the Olympic Games is not just made by the athletes — it is made by the people who show up to support them,” Lewis said in a statement. “Los Angeles has always shown up for me, and now it’s our turn to show up for the world. If you want to be part of something historic, apply today. The role of a lifetime is waiting.”
Applications opened Tuesday for both Olympic and Paralympic volunteer assignments, with participants expected to commit to at least 10 shifts during their designated service period.
The Olympic volunteer period will run from March through August 2028, while Paralympic volunteers will serve from August through September 2028.
Volunteer assignments will range from welcoming and assisting spectators and athletes to specialized positions involving medical support, communications, technology, transportation and language translation assistance, officials said.
While most volunteer positions will be based in the Los Angeles region, organizers said volunteers will also be needed at Olympic venues in San Diego, San Jose, Oklahoma City, New York, Columbus, Nashville and St. Louis.
“In 2028, the world’s attention will be on LA as the world’s best athletes make history, but it’s the crew behind the scenes that help make those moments possible,” Hoover said. “Their impact cannot be overstated — behind every event, every venue and every moment will be the LA28 Volunteer Crew, ready and eager to play a vital role in the delivery of the LA28 Games.”
The volunteer program launched in 2025 and has supported more than 25 community service projects across the region, including beach and trail cleanups, habitat restoration projects and food-packing efforts, officials said.
The Tuesday event included a cleanup and beautification effort in partnership with Friends of Griffith Park, where more than 100 volunteers worked in an area that will serve as the venue for Olympic and Paralympic road cycling events during the 2028 Games.
Los Angeles will host the Olympic Games for the third time in 2028, following the 1932 and 1984 Summer Games, and will host the Paralympic Games for the first time.
Prospective volunteers can apply and learn more about the program through LA28’s volunteer website at https://volunteer.la28.org.