[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1610 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1610
Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the LA84 Foundation and of the
1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 6, 2024
Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Bera, Ms. Eshoo, Mr.
Sherman, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Correa, Ms. Crockett, Mr. Costa, Mr.
Panetta, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Porter, Mr.
Mullin, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Takano, Ms. Pelosi, Ms. Barragan, Mrs. Torres
of California, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Robert Garcia of California, Mr. Carbajal,
Mr. Peters, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Cardenas, and Ms. Lofgren) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the LA84 Foundation and of the
1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
Whereas the city of Los Angeles had the distinct honor of hosting the XXIII
Olympiad from July 28 to August 12, 1984, marking a transformative
moment in the history of international sports, media, and technology,
setting a new standard for future Olympic events, and immortalizing a
defining moment in Olympic history and in the history of Los Angeles;
Whereas Los Angeles also hosted the 1932 Olympic Games, and the 1984 Summer
Olympic Games were the first privately financed Games, bringing
innovation to Olympic financing, which resulted in a historic
$233,000,000 surplus that contributed to the creation of the LA84
Foundation, an organization that has since invested in youth sports
programs, infrastructure, and public education, advocating for the role
of sports in positive youth development, particularly in underserved
communities, thereby leaving a lasting legacy of access to athletic
opportunities for all, by fostering the athletic and academic
development of future generations, exemplified by such prominent
athletes as Russell Westbrook and Venus and Serena Williams who
participated in LA84 Foundation-funded programs;
Whereas the LA84 Foundation is celebrating 40 years of impact as a legacy of the
1984 Olympic Games, as the LA84 Foundation was founded with a portion of
the financial surplus from the 1984 Games to provide access to sport and
play to kids by investing in local communities;
Whereas the LA84 Foundation has supported 4,000,000 youth, trained 200,000
coaches, built or refurbished 400 fields, pools, and courts, and funded
2,500 nonprofit partners over the last 4 decades, continuing to remove
barriers and expand resources to ensure all young people have access to
the transformative power of sports, play, and movement regardless of
their background;
Whereas the LA84 Foundation has supported youth programming in the 8 southern
California counties of Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San
Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura;
Whereas the LA84 Foundation also houses one of the world's foremost Olympic
libraries, the LA84 Sports Library, on its campus to cultivate greater
understanding of the value of physical activity and competition, with
unique digital assets including research, oral histories, news, and
scholarly journals;
Whereas the 1984 Olympic Games showcased the strength of diversity by welcoming
140 nations to Los Angeles, including the first appearance of China at
the Summer Games since 1952, becoming a symbol of unity, and overcoming
political tensions during the Cold War era, including the Soviet-led
boycott of the Games;
Whereas the city of Los Angeles, renowned for its vibrant cultural diversity,
hosted nearly 7,000 athletes, including iconic figures like Carl Lewis,
who matched Jesse Owens' record by securing 4 gold medals in track and
field, and Mary Lou Retton, the first American woman to win an Olympic
all-around gymnastics title, thus inspiring a generation of young
athletes, particularly women and girls;
Whereas the 1984 Olympics Games broke new ground for women's sports, including
the introduction of the women's Olympic marathon, in which Joan Benoit
made history by winning the gold medal, further symbolizing the growing
inclusivity and recognition of women's achievements in global athletics;
Whereas millions of people around the world watched these athletes participate,
demonstrating the global appeal of the Olympic movement and the
resilience of the host city amidst a politically charged global
landscape, and demonstrating the enduring power of sport to unite and
inspire athletes and fans across the globe;
Whereas the 1984 Summer Olympic Games revolutionized global sports broadcasting,
thanks in part to the historic partnership between the Los Angeles
Organizing Committee and the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), which
brought unprecedented worldwide viewership, celebrating the power of
sport to connect people across continents;
Whereas this entrepreneurial spirit and strategic foresight not only ensured the
financial viability of the Games, but also laid the foundation for the
sustainable growth of future sporting events such as the upcoming 2026
World Cup, 2026 NBA All-Star Game, 2027 Super Bowl LXI, and 2028 Olympic
Games, all hosted in Los Angeles;
Whereas, behind the scenes, the tireless efforts of the LA Olympic Organizing
Committee staff and 33,500 volunteers brought the vision of the 1984
Olympic Games to life, from coordinating logistics to providing
hospitality, leaving an indelible impression on athletes and spectators
alike;
Whereas the cultural impact of the 1984 Olympic Games was profound, as Los
Angeles, with its diverse communities and rich heritage, took center
stage and celebrated its unique identity on a global platform through
vibrant performances, art exhibitions, food, and cultural events,
fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation;
Whereas the Olympic Games transformed Los Angeles into an international sporting
capital, utilizing existing venues such as the Los Angeles Memorial
Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, and Dodger Stadium, all of which remain central
to the city's identity, and inspiring the city's successful bid to host
the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic Games;
Whereas the Games set new records for attendance and viewership, with over
5,700,000 tickets sold and more than 180,000,000 Americans tuning in,
making the 1984 Summer Olympic Games the most watched event in
television history at that time;
Whereas the 1984 Olympic Games were not only a celebration of athletic
excellence but also an opportunity to uplift Black and brown communities
in Los Angeles, particularly through the creation of jobs, investments
in local businesses, and community-focused arts and sports programming;
Whereas these Games represented a pivotal moment for professional athletes'
inclusion, signaling the evolving relationship between amateurism and
professionalism in international sports, and leading to iconic future
Olympic moments such as the 1992 ``Dream Team'' in basketball;
Whereas the achievements of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games are inextricably
linked to the contributions of thousands of volunteers, community
leaders, local businesses, and public officials who worked together to
ensure its success, highlighting the strength and unity of the people of
Los Angeles;
Whereas the success of the 1984 Summer Games played a pivotal role in promoting
travel to and throughout the United States, advancing the visibility of
the Nation on the global stage, and providing opportunities to bolster
sport and cultural diplomacy efforts, and showcasing Los Angeles as a
global city capable of hosting events that bring together nations in the
spirit of peace, competition, and understanding;
Whereas the 1984 Summer Games set a high standard for the upcoming 2028 Summer
Olympic Games, again to be held in Los Angeles, California, inspiring
future generations to uphold the Olympic ideals of excellence,
inclusion, and unity, while ensuring a positive and lasting impact for
the city and its diverse communities; and
Whereas the legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games continues to inspire the next
generation of leaders and athletes, while reinforcing the values of
equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all, especially for the Black and
brown youth in our communities who, through increased access to the
arts, education, and sports, are empowered to dream and achieve: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That Congress--
(1) recognizes and commemorates the 40th anniversary of the
LA84 Foundation and of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los
Angeles, California, honors the impact of the LA84 Foundation
over the last 40 years and honors the athletes of Team USA and
the organizers of the Games for their achievements, and
celebrates the enduring legacy of these Games, which continue
to inspire advancements in sports, technology, equity, and
global unity; and
(2) celebrates the LA84 Foundation and the city of Los
Angeles for its enduring contributions to the Olympic movement,
its leadership in sports diplomacy and play equity, and its
ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable society
through sport, arts, and culture.
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