Mayor Bass Makes History At The Paralympics, Brings Flag to L.A. For First Time Ever

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PARIS, FRANCE - Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass made history on Sunday as she received the Paralympic Flag from International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons and Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo during the Closing Ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games. This is the first time the Paralympic Flag is coming to Los Angeles. The Mayor was in Paris to continue important preparations to host the first-ever Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. She returned to Los Angeles on Monday. Photos and video from throughout the trip are available here.

"Los Angeles has hosted two previous Olympic Games, but never before have we had the opportunity to host the Paralympic Games," said Mayor Karen Bass. "In Paris, we had an unmatched opportunity to learn from this record-breaking Paralympics, from innovations to deliver an accessible experience to continue to build the Paralympic movement in the U.S. ahead of 2028. We are taking back invaluable insights into how to deliver a Paralympic Games that celebrates athletes and fosters inclusion and accessibility both on and off the field of play. These lasting changes won't just help Angelenos during the Games, they will shape our City for decades to come. I congratulate Mayor Hidalgo and Paris 2024 on hosting an incredible Paralympic Games."

During the trip, Mayor Bass highlighted the importance of creating an inclusive and accessible Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, especially as 2028 will be the first time in history that the Paralympic Games have come to Los Angeles. The Mayor is committed to creating lasting and accessible infrastructure ahead of the Paralympic Games and ensuring that everyone across the world gets excited to cheer on Paralympic athletes in Los Angeles.

On Thursday, September 12, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will host local leaders and Olympic and Paralympic athletes to celebrate the return of the Olympic Flag to Los Angeles, and the arrival of the Paralympic flag for the first time in City history. The event will focus on a Games For All theme, opening the Olympic and Paralympic Games in an accessible way for people throughout Los Angeles and throughout the world.

The event is invite-only and open to registered press. Register by emailing [email protected]by Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM. Space is limited.

Mayor Bass continues to move L.A. in a new direction. The following announcements were made over the past few days:

• Protecting Angelenos During The Heatwave:Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass directed City Departments to take immediate action and has increased and extended resources to assist Angelenos in staying cool. In response to recent power outages relating to this continuing heat, LADWP has elevated its alert and increased crews restoring power in impacted neighborhoods. A full citywide coordination to protect Angelenos from the heat is in effect, and augmented cooling centers are open as an additional resource through Tuesday, September 10.
• Providing Resources During Record-Breaking Heat: Hundreds of seniors living in Pacoima and the San Fernando Valley received free portable room air conditioners, utility bill discounts and heat safety resources at a Cool LA Heat Relief for Seniors event hosted by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Los Angeles Department of Aging and Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. Angelenos who attended the giveaway event in Pacoima were also able to sign up on-the-spot for LADWP financial assistance programs such as EZ-SAVEand Lifeline, and learn about other money-saving programs. LADWP recruiters were also available to talk about job opportunities in the city.
• Building More Affordable Housing: The City has secured fundingto bring hundreds of new affordable housing units and infrastructure improvements that will reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 66,000 metric tons - the equivalent of roughly 15,000 cars per year. These funding awards align with Mayor Bass' comprehensive effort in Los Angeles to urgently confront the homelessness crisis by building more housing, preventing people from falling into homelessness and bringing people inside.
• Bringing Angelenos Inside: More unhoused Angelenos were brought insidewith supportive services through an Inside Safe response effort in South Los Angeles near Avalon Boulevard and East Vernon Avenue. Inside Safe response efforts are carried out by a dedicated portion of the Field Intervention Team, building relationships with unhoused Angelenos who come to past Inside Safe operation sites and housing them with supportive services. The Response Team monitors all previous Inside Safe locations.
• Helping Small Business Succeed: The City has helped hundreds of small businessessecure more than $18 million to support the opening and growth of their business since Mayor Bass' Executive Directive 4 was enacted. Along with assistance securing financial capital, the Mayor's Office has helped businesses navigate permitting approval processes and other City department processes to accelerate business openings and growth.

Readouts from Paris:

Partnering With Regional Leaders To Deepen Knowledge - On Sunday, Mayor Bass signed an agreement with Mayor Hanotin of Saint-Denis, to exchange what works around arts, culture, sports, accessibility and sustainability efforts to ensure that L.A. builds on the momentum of the Paris 2024 Games as urgent preparations continue ahead of 2028. The Mayors agreed to work in partnership and close collaboration for the betterment of their respective communities.

Observing Inclusive and Accessible Activations Throughout The Region And Outside of Arenas - Mayor Bass and the L.A. delegation visited Hôtel De Ville, Paris' historic City Hall, to participate in the City-hosted La Terrasse des Jeux, a free fan festival and watch party where more than 4,000 residents and visitors are able to come together to experience the Paralympic Games outside of the arenas. The Mayor hopes to implement similar activities throughout the City in 2028.

Strengthening Partnerships For the 2028 Paralympic Games- Mayor Bass met with International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons, IPC Vice-President Duane Kale, IPC CEO Mike Peters, Chief Paralympic Games Delivery Officer Colleen Wrenn with LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman to discuss strategies to support the Paralympic movement in preparation for hosting the first ever Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Mayor Bass looks forward to working closely with the IPC to build on the success of Paris 2024.

Observing Accessible Housing and Infrastructure -Mayor Bass and members of the Los Angeles delegation toured the Athlete's Village to observe innovative accessibility installations to ensure a successful Paralympic Games.

Continuing Partnerships With City of Paris Officials -Mayor Bass met with Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and multiple Deputy Mayors of Paris regarding continued preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Ensuring Los Angeles Engages Angelenos Throughout L.A. in Creative Ways- Mayor Bass joined the final event of the Les Jeux Poétiques de Paris (The Paris Poetic Games) alongside Mayor Hidalgo, a poetic relay between poets from Paris and L.A. to highlight the importance of embracing arts and culture within the Games and making free, welcoming, community-centered events available to the public. At the event, Mayor Bass met with poets from View Park. She hopes to use the 2028 Games to weave sports and arts together for Angelenos and visitors alike to showcase the diverse spirit of the City of Los Angeles. The Paris-L.A. Poetry Relay is a partnership with the City of Paris, and Los Angeles' Department of Cultural Affairs.

Honoring Paralympians- Mayor Bass presented medals as part of the victory ceremony for the Para Athletics 4x100 Universal Relay. The Mayor and members of the City Council watched Team USA compete in the event the night before.

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