LA 2028 Olympics organizers move to ease concerns over visas

Casey Wasserman, chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee, speaks during the 144th International Olympic Committee session, which will elect the new IOC President, in Costa Navarino, western Greece, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

PYLOS, Greece– Organizers of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on Thursday moved to ease concerns among International Olympic Committee members over visas and entry requirements for athletes and officials for those Games.

Since taking office on January 20, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a number of immigration-related executive orders that focus on stricter border policy, tighter visa vetting procedures and a crackdown on undocumented migrants in the United States.

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IOC members, including the President of the International Equestrian Federation Ingmar De Vos, asked LA 2028 Games chairman Casey Wasserman at the session in southern Greece about concerns about visas and entry requirements for athletes at the Games given the recent developments in the United States.

“We have had four different administrations, three different presidents in our bid process,” Wasserman told the IOC session.

“All of them have affirmed and reaffirmed their commitment to both full access for everyone and the Olympic Charter.

Los Angeles was awarded the Games in 2017.

“The Commerce and the State Department under (former President Joe) Biden at the end, created an accelerated visa program specifically for athletes,” Wasserman said.

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“And in my many conversations with President Trump and Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio, they understand the scale and complexity required to deliver these Games, the access required for not just athletes but for delegations and the incredibly short timeframe on which to do those.”

The IOC has repeatedly said it was fully confident of the full support of Trump for the Games, with the president also in charge back in 2017 when the U.S. won the nod to host them.

“We will have a fully staffed desk at State (department) focusing just on this issue in the next 12 months to get prepared for this and I don’t anticipate any problems from any country to come and participate and have their delegations in full force and be part of the Games in Los Angeles,” Wasserman said.

IOC president elect Kirsty Coventry guaranteed all athletes qualifying for the Games would be allowed into the U.S. to take part in LA 2028.

“We will not waver from our values of solidarity and will ensure that all athletes who qualify for the Olympic Games can get to the Olympics and be safe,” she told a press conference on Thursday, shortly after being elected to replace German Thomas Bach.