The Cultural Olympiad, a century-old Olympic programme, should not be considered a decorative afterthought within the Olympic and Paralympic Games hosting process: it is a potent platform for cultural policy, urban legacy, and inclusive storytelling.
In this brief article I argue that to unlock its full potential, Los Angeles must invest—strategically and structurally—in culture: funding, evaluation, equity, and rooted connection to place. By doing so, LA’28 can model how sport and art together can reflect identity, catalyze participation, and leave a lasting imprint far beyond the Games.
Key observations on the Cultural Olympiad
1. A Century-Long Journey—from Art Competitions to Four-Year Olympic Cultural Programs
I have traced the evolution of the Olympic cultural offering from Coubertin’s early Olympic art competitions (beginning in 1912) to the modern multi-year Cultural Olympiad—asserting that the cultural dimension has always been an intentional (yet often under-recognized) pillar of Olympism ( SEE: Taylor and Francis Online, beatrizgarcia.net).
2. Visibility, Funding, and Structural Weaknesses
Despite its century-plus heritage, the Cultural Olympiad remains the “least valued” segment of the Games. I have always emphasize three interconnected structural challenges:
- Lack of a protected budget—unlike high-profile elements like ceremonies or torch relays (University of Liverpool).
- Branding and media constraints—which often limit cultural initiatives’ visibility and coherence with Olympic identity guidelines (beatrizgarcia.net, University of Liverpool).
- Operational diffusion—as illustrated by Rio 2016, where cultural programming was delegated to separate entities and thus struggled to form a cohesive narrative (University of Liverpool, The Conversation).
3. Local Innovation and Urban Legacy amid Constraints
In the absence of formal support (ie. the interruption of its official Cultural Olympiad), cities can still harness powerful cultural expression. Rio’s combination of “live sites,” bold street art, and JR’s interventions (like “giants” and “InsideOut”) demonstrate how art can activate neglected urban spaces, produce memorable experiences, and organically connect with communities at Games time, making a meaningful difference to the Olympic and Paralympic narrative —even under fiscal and institutional constraints (University of Liverpool).
4. Agenda 2020 & Rising Expectations for Cultural Fourth Pillar
In previous publications I have underscored how, particularly after Rio 2016, there’s an emerging momentum—driven by IOC’s Agenda 2020—to elevate culture alongside sport, with Tokyo 2020 positioning the vision and philosophy of its Cultural Olympiad more centrally than had been the case before, and managing to deliver moments of outstanding significance for Japanese communities, despite suffering the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which prevented large scale public space gatherings (University of Liverpool).
5. Documentation, Evaluation, and Strategic Learning
My work underscores the importance of evaluating cultural programs thoughtfully: from London 2012 (for which I conducted the first Organising Committee–commissioned evaluation) to Paris 2024, where I assessed 2,600 projects and their reach across France’s territories (beatrizgarcia.net).
I stress that rigorous assessment is vital for understanding impact, steering policy, and guiding future hosts. LA’28 hosting authorities and the Games organising committee must ensure that their Cultural Olympiad is part of their overall Games impact and evaluation programme, as there is ample evidence of the profound value and resilience of cultural and symbolic legacies post Games.
6. Equity, Inclusion, and the Tri-Phasic Model
Insights from the Paris–Los Angeles Leadership Exchange reveal best practices for a forward-thinking Cultural Olympiad:
- Three-phase structure: planning before, programming during, and sustaining legacy after the Games.
- Balancing scales: designing inclusive, localized cultural experiences alongside spectacular, globally broadcast moments.
- Authentic and civic engagement: embracing political and societal themes—health, justice, sustainability—to connect art and sport with civic life.
- Supporting local talent: empowering artists and organizations from underserved communities via capacity-building to ensure genuine participation (World Cities Culture Forum).
Relevance for the Los Angeles 2028 Cultural Olympiad
Drawing on my findings over the years, here’s how Los Angeles 2028 could intentionally shape its Cultural Olympiad:
A. Secure Institutional Foundations
- Embed the Cultural Olympiad within the formal Olympic planning framework, with base funding and brand alignment baked into the Organising Committee’s responsibilities.
B. Leverage LA’s Creative Ecosystem for Visibility and Inclusion
- Activate LA’s rich urban canvas—e.g., through street art, hip-hop culture, film, and public installations in neighborhoods citywide—to both democratize access and celebrate place-based narratives.
C. Embrace a Three-Phase Strategy
- Pre-Games: Build momentum through artist residencies, school partnerships, community storytelling, and cross-sector collaborations.
- During: Combine high-profile flagship events with micro-local activations—flash performances, pop-up exhibitions, cultural “takeovers” of public spaces.
- Post-Games: Convert temporary interventions into lasting practice—through public art strategies, arts education programs, and embedded cultural organizations.
D. Prioritize Equity and Civic Connection
- Center programs co-led by local artists from underrepresented communities.
- Address pressing civic themes through expressive, participatory art—e.g., community health, sustainability, social justice—grounding the Olympiad in urgent relevance.
E. Build a Robust Evaluation and Knowledge Strategy
- Design evaluation tools early: gather data on participation, media impact, geographic reach, and legacy outcomes.
- Commission an independent evaluation mid- and post-Olympiad to distill findings, document lessons, and offer guidance to future hosts.
Find additional analysis of the Cultural Olympiad editions, here.