In two years, the LA 2028 Olympics will get underway, and we’re looking ahead to those Games and what they’ll have to offer. Superfan Sarah, officially recognized as Team USA’s #1 fan, joins us to talk about how to prepare for the Olympics and Paralympics and what sports we’re looking forward to seeing. We also discuss the many American comebacks that are happening in light of a home Games, and we start speculating on who could light the cauldron. Who do you think will be involved? Let us know!
Volunteer applications are open for LA28. They’re looking for Games-time volunteers in all of the host cities, but if you’re local to the Los Angeles area, there are ongoing opportunities to help out with monthly beautification and restoration projects. Find more info and apply here.
In other LA 2028 news:
- We’re closer to seeing Major League Baseball players participate in the Olympics
- On Location has announced new hospitality packages for more sports and competition zones, plus a “follow my team” option for basketball (“climate controlled” and “shade” are big catchphrases with hospitality options)
- More hospitality houses are coming, including ones for Africa, Cabo Verde, Germany and Romania.
SUMMER OF NOSTALGIA
We’re having a Summer of Nostalgia at our Patreon site where we’re sharing never-before-seen photos and videos from our escapades at Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, and Milano Cortina 2026. Relive those memories with us and support the show by becoming a patron or purchasing the Summer of Nostalgia collection!
Want more on LA28? Check out these episodes:
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TRANSCRIPT
Note: This is an uncorrected machine-generated transcript and may contain errors. Please check its accuracy against the audio. Do not quote from the transcript; use the audio as the record of note.
440-Two years to LA28 with Superfan Sarah
Theme Music
Jill Jaracz: Hello, and [00:00:30] welcome to another episode of Keep the Flame Alive, the podcast for fans of the Olympics and Paralympics. If you love the games, we are the show for you. I am your host, Jill Jaracz, joined as always by my lovely co-host Alison Brown, and today with super fan Sarah Patton. But Alison, hello, how are you?
Alison Brown: I’m ready for a party show.
Jill Jaracz: super fan Sarah knows how to do an Olympic party, and we are- … celebrating, we are celebrating two years to LA 2028 today, and it was a perfect day to bring Sarah back. And Sarah, it’s [00:01:00] been forever.
Superfan Sarah: Yes, it has been. And thank you so much for having me. You know you do not have to twist my arm to get me talking about the Olympics, especially a home games.
Jill Jaracz: Exactly. It’s gonna be big. It’s gonna be amazing. The whole country’s gonna go crazy I think. we are currently in World Cup mode and it’s been wild around the country, just think of what’s gonna happen with the games.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah, I’m very excited for it. And I must say, I have been delightfully surprised [00:01:30] at how excited everybody has been and hospitable everyone has been, um, welcoming the nations to United States.
And I mean, I know it’s not just the US, Mexico and Canada included, but, It makes me more excited for LA than ever.
Alison Brown: Bodes well that things are going to go smoothly.
Superfan Sarah: Mm-hmm.
How to keep going between Games as an Olympics/Paralympics fan
Jill Jaracz: how do you keep going as a super fan with two, two years between games? Although I heard that you had a, a pretty epic [00:02:00] party for Milano Cortina 2026.
Superfan Sarah: yeah. So I must say, I get by with a little help from my friends. I have friends who will just text me asking me all the Olympic questions, and if I don’t know it, I’m like, “This is my job. I have to find out.” but When I think about specifically getting ready for Los Angeles, you know, we were so fortunate with Paris that we were able to get a lot of really great tickets, for our family to go.
But with LA, I [00:02:30] was rejected from drop number one, and I took that personally. But I had so many friends who were willing to call me and say, “I got access. What should we get? What are we doing?” And so, several friends, you know who you are if any of them are listening, we are so grateful. We get by with help from our friends and, we did have a friend that helped us score volleyball tickets for our family, so we’re looking forward to that.
But, yeah, I’ve been so [00:03:00] fortunate that I have friends who also love the Olympics, are excited for it. so it… I don’t do it alone. But yeah, I’ve always been this way, so I guess it’s just gonna be like this till I’m no longer here.
Ideal tickets for LA28
Jill Jaracz: What else would you like to get when you are selected for drop number two or the Visa pre-sale?
Superfan Sarah: Which allegedly we are good to go for that. so I’m hoping, I think that being a child in [00:03:30] 1996 for Atlanta, I think that that has put this desire in my heart. I really do hope that we get women’s gymnastics team final, just because I know what that was like being just a fan in Atlanta from Texas rooting for Team USA.
I of course would love more beach volleyball.
Hoping that we get women’s team final. would love some basketball. Gotta say, the World Cup, now I’m invested in soccer. and then of course all the…
I think that they’re fantastic [00:04:00] sports, but a lot of the sports that people may not have on their radar. I would love to go to a cricket game. I would love to go to flag football, which I’m sure will be popular, especially the men’s. But, Archery. The, you know, all, all of those sports. So I will just be excited for whatever we get.
and hopefully can still afford my mortgage after, you know.
Jill Jaracz: Yeah.
Alison Brown: Yeah, they’re not…
Jill Jaracz: The
Alison Brown: tickets are not cheap. Those cheap tickets
Superfan Sarah: are- No …
Alison Brown: are hard to come by.
Superfan Sarah: Yes. [00:04:30] So we’ll see what happens, but, as we learned with Paris, there’s a certain excitement about being in an Olympic city. and I will say, living in Dallas, we are hopeful that if the timing works out or maybe we could do both, we would love to do LA, but also maybe go up to Oklahoma City, ’cause it’s just a few hours away.
so would love to see some softball, canoeing, whatever we can get.
Surprising comeback announcements ahead of LA28
Jill Jaracz: Nice. I realize that this is an Olympics podcast, but news in [00:05:00] gymnastics, speaking of gymnastics, has been the return of Suni Lee, the return of Kaitlin Ohashi, and return of what Jordan Chiles is returning to elite. Jay Carey. Jerry Carey.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. Jordan, Jordan hasn’t officially gone away. as in there’s not been a retirement post, and so I don’t know if she’s going to even announce a comeback, I just… But yeah, like, I think Jordan’s coming back.
Jill Jaracz: So all of these gymnasts that we have known in the Olympic arena [00:05:30] for years are back again trying for LA, and it’s gonna be amazing.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. when I was thinking about this episode, I wrote out a whole bunch of things where I was like, “The Comeback Kids,” because some of these athletes, I wonder if they would be coming back if it were not a home games. and especially the women who were in Tokyo, and then they got to experience Paris with a crowd, and then the allure of [00:06:00] that at home would be incredible for them.
Jill Jaracz: Right. Oh my
Alison Brown: gosh. And just how much gymnastics has changed in this generation, where they are coming back even for one more, never mind number three. You know- Yes … you didn’t see girls coming back for two back in the day. So, you know, you, you mentioned ’96. It was one and done in that time, and now they’re coming back for number three, which is just mind-boggling and has changed the sport tremendously
Superfan Sarah: [00:06:30] Yeah, absolutely.
And, you know, Kaitlin Ohashi, I think was the biggest surprise to me. and she’s never been to the Olympics before, but something notable about her, she was the first, and for a while, the only elite gymnast to ever beat Simone. and I think that that was 2013 when they both were coming onto the elite scene.
and I say that’s been a lot of time. She was younger, but I think that shows her talent, for sure. but Kaitlin really thrived as a collegiate gymnast, [00:07:00] and then, I saw, like, a little interview of her, and she was just saying she’s doing this for herself. But also, I love the normalization of these grown women doing gymnastics.
And the Olympics, as much as I love the Olympics, we know it’s not the end-all be-all. And so for her, she might find satisfaction in making it to nationals or just doing it, enjoying the sport that she loves. But I saw the video of her at the recent competition, I think it was the American Classic, and I was really [00:07:30] impressed
Jill Jaracz: Yeah.
So- It’s been nice to have the age trend older and older, I think, and show that, sports is an adult thing as well as for youth. I, I do feel a little bit, for the younger generation who kept thinking, “Oh, my time is the next game. My- this is my games.” And it may not be for many of… You know, you would think that an entire guard would change over, and they don’t anymore.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. and, you know, thinking [00:08:00] back to Suni announcing her comeback, if you followed her story leading up to Paris, she had just overcome some kidney issues, her kidney disease, and she peaked at the right time to make that team and to do well. I mean, we saw her get a bronze medal in the all-around, and, I mean, she thrived in Paris.
But I have to wonder if she’s like, “Okay, I was barely healthy for Paris. What might I be like after a few years of being [00:08:30] healthy?” and I think the timing is interesting because And this is not to bash any gymnast, ’cause I could never do what they do, but a lot of times we see comebacks, you know, in spring of an Olympic year.
But doing it two years out- She’s serious … like, they know. Yeah. Yeah.
Jill Jaracz: And they know what it takes, all the training involved with, getting back to an elite level. It’s, it’s really impressive.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. They’re giving themselves time. And Simone, when she has talked about a comeback, she has said, that her [00:09:00] coaches told her, “Give us a two-year heads-up.”
And so, I don’t know. I know that not too long ago she posted some stuff, without going into detail, about a recent health issue that she had, so I don’t know if that is gonna take her out. But I would not be surprised to see Simone go for LA.
Alison Brown: Agreed.
Superfan Sarah: Like, I’m not, I’m not gonna bet money on it and say it’s happening, but- I don’t know.
I mean- The, the allure. The allure of LA. Yeah, and I, I will [00:09:30] say, uh, Simone was pretty open about wanting to have a family and to have kids. My prediction was that after Paris she was gonna have a baby, come back, but also we know things don’t always work in a timeline that is planned for that kind of stuff.
and so I don’t know. If… I, I think the next couple years it’s probably that choice for her. I can’t say. I don’t know. And that’s not my business to say, but it would just be curious to kind of see maybe if she goes to the Olympics and then maybe has kids, you know? I just, if [00:10:00] she’s healthy, I would not be surprised to see her come back.
Alison Brown: Since we’re talking about comebacks, what other comebacks were you thinking of?
Superfan Sarah: Well, it is no secret that a woman who I admire personally, Allyson Felix, y’all know I love her, she has announced a comeback, and that one surprised me. And I know that it will be very difficult for her to make that team, but she has made teams [00:10:30] after not being expected to make teams before.
She picked up an individual medal in Tokyo against all odds and after everything she went through with her first baby. so I don’t know. I’m very curious to see, but again, she’s giving herself two and a half years since she announced it. and she knows what it takes. And so I don’t know. I hope that it goes well for her. I hope that we see her in LA, and she grew up in LA. So again, would she be coming back if the Olympics were not in LA? I don’t know. Maybe [00:11:00] not. But that temptation of a home games is too big.
Jill Jaracz: I wonder how much some of these athletes get ta- not talked to, but how much it comes up in conversation with them in terms of like, what do you think you want?
Would you come back? Is it always in the back of your mind? What was it like for her being at Paris with, and seeing it, and then you’re like, “Well, maybe I can still do it,” ’cause I still go out. I’m s- obviously she stays in [00:11:30] shape. I don’t think- Yeah … that somebody of her caliber just doesn’t work out ev- anymore.
But, I wonder how much it is the, “Oh, I think I can still do that,” and then the, “Oh, but,” and doing it at home. If you see how crazy the French were in Paris, w- you know how Americans get too. What’s that- Mm-hmm … gonna be like.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. you know, I also know that Alison has had a couple of documentaries made about her, and so I’m curious will we get up close and personal with her [00:12:00] journey?
which reminds me, going back to Suni, I don’t know if you saw the announcement that Suni made. She also announced that this is gonna be the first Fanatics-produced documentary that’s gonna- Oh … follow her journey. so if Fanatics is starting with Suni, who else is gonna get a documentary and have a comeback- Mm
documented? so that’ll be interesting. I know Alison was a part of Sprint, on Netflix, so maybe we’ll see something there, or maybe another platform. But, yeah. uh, having a hometown Olympics, I just think [00:12:30] the temptation is too big to not try. Taylor Phinney, have you guys heard about that one? Oh, oh.
He’s a cyclist. Yes. Yeah. Connie Carpenter Phinney’s son, and, Davis Phinney- Yep … right? Yep. So I mean, he’s a cyclist that’s announced his comeback, and he ended his career after injury is my understanding. And with his mom being an Olympic champion from LA, I mean, why not? He grew up seeing that gold medal.
Why not? Why not try? [00:13:00]
Alison Brown: I mean, what a story that would be- Yeah.
Superfan Sarah: I know … to
Alison Brown: bookend with, with LA like that.
The return of Russia at LA28
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. I mean, and then, I feel like there’s random individual athletes that have come to my mind when it comes to comebacks. But we’ve gotta say it’s going to be interesting to see which Russian athletes make a return to the games under the Russian flag.
Alison Brown: Yes.
Superfan Sarah: Like, that’s… I, I have to say, like, that’s part of the comeback, [00:13:30] but obviously controversial and so many questions. And will they make it through the entire Olympics without being busted for doping? Who can know?
Alison Brown: Though I am glad that it’s starting this process now, that we do have this two-year window that we’ll have a full year of World Cups and World Championships with the Russians before we get to LA, that it won’t just be this sudden reemergence of- Mm-hmm
of the Russian team [00:14:00] and Russian anthem, that everybody kind of gets… I don’t wanna say gets over themselves a little bit, but gets over that shock of seeing that again, that we’ve got a little time to adjust.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah, I agree. you know, going back to my friends that will talk to me about the Olympics, I have been asked many times what my thoughts on that are, and I’m just like, It’s inevitable that they’re gonna come back at some point. Um, so like you said, it’s good that we have time to prepare for [00:14:30] that. As much as I’m not thrilled about it, it was only a matter of time. I think that politically it’ll be interesting. Like, will Putin be at opening ceremony? Is… and you know- Who’s welcome?
We know, we know the Olympics get political whether they wanna be or not. Like, the Olympics serve as such a backdrop to politics, even if they wanna say, “Oh, no politics here.”
Jill Jaracz: Time will tell. It’ll be… Well, and, and two years is still a long enough [00:15:00] time that anything could happen between-
Superfan Sarah: Yes … now and
Jill Jaracz: then. Yeah, politically.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah.
Jill Jaracz: So
Superfan Sarah: it’ll be- I know. I was thinking about that. We don’t even know, like, what other, God forbid, wars might happen between now and LA, and- Right
what that looks like. So yeah.
Getting your children hyped about LA28
Jill Jaracz: All right. Your adorable children
Team USA’s number one child fan since, or- Superfan Junior … Superfan
Alison Brown: Junior.
Jill Jaracz: Uh, [00:15:30] Wilson, what has he been up to in cheering on Team USA?
Superfan Sarah: Yeah, so he’s gotten into the World Cup, of course, like so many of us. he is excited for the Olympics. so I was asking him, you know, “What are you looking forward to?”
And, he said that he’s excited that it’s a shorter flight to LA than when he went to Paris. he is excited that it’s close to Disneyland. and he is [00:16:00] excited to watch swimming in a huge stadium.
Alison Brown: Hmm.
Superfan Sarah: Um, ’cause we’ve talked about that a little bit. he is hopeful that he gets to see his iconic role model, Caeleb Dressel.
he hopes that he gets to see him compete in LA. So he’s already excited for swimming. When he does swim lessons, i- uh, we may have talked about this before on here, but the place that he does swim lessons is ran by an Olympic gold medalist, so when he sees him walking around, he’s always like, [00:16:30] “He has gold medals like Caeleb Dressel.”
it’s just really sweet. He’s really into the swimming, looking forward to it, wants to be a part of it, wants to join a swim team, which we’ll probably do next summer. so yeah, I, I think that that’s gonna be… Those are tickets that we have to try to get. and I will say, it’s cool as a mom, when Wilson struggles with something in sports, I have shown him clips of Caeleb talking about some of his own struggles, and I’ve shown him Caeleb does not win every [00:17:00] race.
He, you know, so it’s cool to see how Olympians talking about their vulnerabilities, I watch that influence on my kids. he is excited that Suni is coming back because I know I’ve shared this story with y’all before about how he once saw her getting a hot dog and a soda at a meet. And which, one, love.
Love that we see gymnasts getting hot dogs and sodas. but he went up to her and introduced himself to her, and so anything Suni does is [00:17:30] exciting ’cause he thinks that they’re friends. so he’s always like, “I know her.” I’m like, “You have met her.”
Alison Brown: What, what do you think thinks that they’re friends? They are friends, Sarah.
What are you talking about?
Superfan Sarah: Yeah, may we all have the confidence of my child. yeah, and he’s excited for flag football, which I am too. I’m excited for the opportunity for children like mine to see that football does not have to involve pads and [00:18:00] tackles and brain injuries. I mean, we know anything is possible.
It’s an intense sport, but you know what I mean. Yeah … shifting, shifting away from that, because I will allow him to play flag football.
Alison Brown: Yeah. And you live in- And Texas is so big- Yeah … for football. Yes. You’re in football country. Yes. So it’s a, it’s a, it’s a struggle to not play football growing up in Texas.
Superfan Sarah: Absolutely. I’m like, “You wanna be a kicker? Don’t, don’t you wanna be a kicker?”
Alison Brown: You know? I know. It’s scary when it’s your own kid going out there. [00:18:30]
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. So I hope that it continues to grow the sport.
Jill Jaracz: Can you tell the opinion of flag football in Texas, being it’s such a hotbed…
Football is such a big deal in Texas.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah, that’s a good question. I know for the stage that I’m in, so Wilson is going into first grade, it is very common for kids his age to play flag football. I don’t know what age is most common for them to start pads, but [00:19:00] I know kids who have done pads pretty early and have done tackle, like, peewee football type stuff.
but through our local YMCA, flag football has grown a lot, and there are girls that play. So, what we have figured out is that in school, what a group of kids just kind of decide to do is where they all go. So Wilson’ll play on the soccer team, he’ll play on a baseball team with his school friends, and that’s kind of how they figure out what they like.
but enough kids play flag football [00:19:30] that I think it’s growing in popularity. but for context, I’m also in a suburb where we have so many opportunities to do all kinds of sports. I think in the smaller towns where football especially is a huge part of small town identity, I don’t know if it’s growing the same way that it is, like, here in the Dallas area, if that makes sense.
cause I, when I was little, I lived in the small towns where the whole town is going to Friday night football. I mean, our stadiums compete size-wise with college [00:20:00] stadiums in a lot of places. like, it’s crazy. It is crazy, and I did not realize until I married a man from Kansas that we are very unique in that.
Jill Jaracz: But you also have a second child who is, you know, in Paris was just a wee baby, but now is- Mm-hmm … is a todd- a toddler. Is his USA fandom evolving?
Superfan Sarah: Absolutely. He has a few Olympic shirts that were hand-me-downs from Wilson, [00:20:30] and there are some days that he will say, “I need to wear my Olympic shirt,” or, “I need to wear my USA shirt.”
but he loves to sing The Star-Spangled Banner. he loves to break out in USA chants. Uh, he has a deep, raspy voice, so he doesn’t know a volume that is not loud. so he’s the kind that will walk into a room and get people chanting for USA. he enjoys watching sports. He likes things that crash, [00:21:00] so he actually does like watching football.
he likes to watch things with running, and much like Wilson when he was younger, likes to run around the house. after the Winter Olympics, he got really into watching ice skating, which was interesting, uh, ’cause I figured he’d be more of a hockey kid. But he likes to put his socks on and run around our hardwood floors and say he’s ice skating and make himself fall.
so yeah, I think, I think the next two years are gonna be a lot of fun. so yeah, the younger one is three and a half right now, [00:21:30] so he’ll be five and a half. Uh, for context, when we took Wilson to Paris, he was four. and Wilson did great in Paris. I mean, you guys saw him there. Yeah. He, he thrived, and he was capable of sitting at all those events.
He did really well, got into them. Now that I have a more typical toddler, I recognize that would probably not be the case for Everett at four. So it’s good he has an extra year before he goes to his first Olympics.
Jill Jaracz: Has he [00:22:00] memorized Ilya Malinin’s music from the long program and he sings it around the house while he is also figure skating?
Superfan Sarah: You know, he hasn’t done that, I will say.
Jill Jaracz: He is something, but not nothing.
Superfan Sarah: That, yeah. I remember watching that, with Wilson. He’s like, “What is this?” I was like, “Uh, you’ll understand when you’re older.” [00:22:30] I don’t know.
Alison Brown: So I remember a couple years ago, listener Rosie asked me advice on how to get her child to share the Olympics with her, to share her Olympic love.
So what kind of advice would you give? Because you have done that to, in spades with these, with both of them.
Superfan Sarah: Oh my goodness. I mean, in our family, we are big on celebrations. And eh, whether it’s birthdays, even if it’s just our little family, like [00:23:00] we love, I love a theme. so when the Olympics are coming, my kids usually know that means there at some point will be a gathering of people.
uh, not, and this is not to s- sound like I’ve got things figured out as a parent because, you know, none of us know what the heck we’re doing. but we don’t watch a ton of TV in our house, and so when the TV is on it’s special. And if that means it’s sports, they’re excited ’cause the TV is on. but- And the TV may, [00:23:30] uh, may be on longer if it’s sports, right?
Yes, absolutely. but you know, looking back I don’t think they really had a choice, which maybe they’ll resent me one day. but I think back to like when Wilson was a baby during the pandemic, and we did like that video call with Nastia Liukin, and he was a baby. He was along for the ride.
So I, uh, you know, it, it’s one of those things where my love of the Olympics has rubbed off on them. But they also didn’t have a choice, [00:24:00] and they’ve just been brought into it. Wilson also enjoys learning about other cultures. So there is something about, you know, learning about the different countries that come, learning what their flags look like, learning about their customs.
he’s just very eager to learn. And again, Everett might not keep up with that as he gets older. I think taking them to sporting events has gone really well. Like, we’ve taken both of them to VNL, Volleyball Nations League, and that’s exciting. [00:24:30] Or, things that I find really fun. I’ll look up YouTube clips to be like, “Look at this clip from when I was a kid, and this was something that was special for me.”
So I think it’s rubbed off on them. they like sports. It hasn’t really been hard for me to get them to like the Olympics. themed food, we do a lot of themed food and snacks. So when they get red, white, and blue fruit snacks, that’s a special treat. Um, or when I make cookies and things like that. So I, I think that they have just figured out this is a big deal for us, [00:25:00] and that’s just what our family’s gonna do, and I’m not gonna ever force them to do a bunch of stuff they don’t wanna do.
But if they don’t wanna be a part of an Olympic party, they can go hang out in their room, and that’s fine.
Who will light the LA28 Olympic cauldron?
Jill Jaracz: since we’re two years ahead-
it’s a good time to speculate on a lot of stuff.
Superfan Sarah: Let’s go.
Jill Jaracz: What do we think about opening ceremony?
Superfan Sarah: Okay. I have been brainstorming what I think will happen, or what I think could happen. and again, because it’s two years out, so much could happen. [00:25:30] But I keep wondering, who’s gonna light it?
Who is going to light the cauldron? And then will it be an individual or will it be a team? I don’t know.
Jill Jaracz: Can, can we go back to an individual, please? Mm-hmm. Although, I mean, we do have- Yeah … two opening cer- ceremony stadiums. So I’m- True
Alison Brown: I was gonna say, are you worried
Jill Jaracz: about two cauldrons?
Yes, because we have a cauldron at the Coliseum. So do you put a cauldron in SoFi so they can see it? Or do you have a cauldron in a plaza that is somewhere else? [00:26:00] Which I did not… I, I liked it during Milano Cortina because you could go and you could see it, and you weren’t really going out to San Siro anyway, and you could have cauldrons in multiple spots.
I did not like the opening ceremony’s experience of the flame runs through. And this happened at every, at both Paralympic and Olympic ceremonies, where the flame just comes through and you see it and you wave and that’s it. It takes away the specialness of the flame. Did not love the 25,000 [00:26:30] people lighting the balloon cauldron in Paris.
To me it kind of dilutes the experience.
Superfan Sarah: No, I agree with you. , And because I love the heritage of the Los Angeles Olympics- Mm-hmm
I would love it if it was only at Memorial Coliseum, because it’s tradition. But I’m also aware that they’re gonna have to do something at SoFi Stadium, you know? Like, they will have to do something. So I don’t know what that’ll look like. and then, yeah, if it’s gonna be [00:27:00] individual, like one athlete or a pair, or again, like a team.
and so I keep trying to think of, like, who’s gonna be involved in, like, at least the final legs if not actually lighting the cauldron. and I feel like an obvious answer that, people keep bringing up, like Michael Phelps. Obviously he’s gonna be in- or they will try to get him involved. Like, obviously.
I’ve heard a lot of speculation about Simone. But we’re also going on, like, very recent memory. But I’m thinking about the last time the Summer Olympics [00:27:30] were here. Will they get the Magnificent Seven? because that was such an iconic moment for women’s sports. I think about Michael Johnson Carl Lewis.
I think a name that would’ve been very possible for LA would’ve been Mary Lou Retton, but she’s had a complicated recent history. Um, and I’ll just leave it at that, but I, you know, I don’t know. I also was thinking about, I wanna make sure I get the name right, Gina Hemphill Sh- uh, [00:28:00] Sh- Oh, right
J- yeah Hemphill Jesse Owens’ granddaughter. Yes. I mean, she was part of the final pass off for lighting the cauldron in 1984, and she’s only, like, 65 or something. So, like, will they involve her as a way to honor that legacy? cause I was trying to think, like, will they do anything about a way to incorporate the legacies of earlier Olympians, and thinking about LA heritage, you know.
[00:28:30] Mack Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s brother, they grew up in Pasadena. I think about people like Louis Zamperini, who grew up in the LA area, in Torrance. Like, how will they maybe try to honor some of those athletes? And maybe there’s not a way to. but because Gina was a part of 1984, maybe they’ll do that.
I also thought about 1984, Michael Jordan won a gold medal as part of the basketball team. Will they bring the basketball team out, the women’s basketball team? Joan [00:29:00] Benoit Samuelson, like, how do they not involve her? Like, they have to. Right. So I don’t know. As far as athlete involvement, uh, Bart Conner, gold medalist from 1984, because we know his wife Nadia, the legend Nadia Comaneci, was part of Paris.
so I don’t know. What do y’all think?
Alison Brown: I did have Joan Benoit in my head as has to be involved, and I was thinking about how in Sydney, how they did all the women And I thought that was such an am- uh, they don’t [00:29:30] wanna copy that, but that was such an amazing moment, where it was all these Australian women gold medalist passing from one to the other, and then ending with Cathy Freeman.
And there are so many LA area athletes over the years that I think it’s gonna, that we don’t even realize. You know, you’d have to know the entire list, all the swimmers, all the runners, all the, that to get all the gold medalists who are from that LA area to do that final lap.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. And then- I mean,
Alison Brown: [00:30:00] Allyson
Superfan Sarah: Felix.
Alison Brown: Yeah. I mean, it’s- She- … not gonna be hard to fill that, to fill that void. I think Janet Evans is from that area, and she’s involved- Mm-hmm … in the, in the committee. So it’s gonna be a fun- Who’s who, I think, and a little bit of a Where’s Waldo as to who you’re gonna do at that final moment. And I’m reading a book right now, and how they ended up with Muhammad Ali was, who is the greatest living American Olympian when they had Ali for, 96 in [00:30:30] Atlanta.
And I’m like, “Who is that?” And you gotta say Phelps.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah, I mean, medal-wise, we know he is a record-breaker that I don’t know if he’ll be caught. and Americans would love to see him on their TV. I’m also still like, “Michael, you really done with the pool?” I think he is, but who knows? But I mean, like with Allyson, depending on if she’s gonna be competing.
Is Allyson Felix going to even be capable of being involved in a ceremony, or like if Simone is competing, you [00:31:00] know? but thinking about some of the legacy athletes, I also wrote down, Rowdy Gaines.
Alison Brown: Yes.
Superfan Sarah: Everyone knows him from listening to him, but he also won gold medals in 1984. Yes,
Alison Brown: he did, and I believe he’s an LA guy as well.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. So It’s really sweet that the options feel endless. yeah, ’cause I know not every country maybe is this fortunate ’cause we’re so big, and I know that sounds very, very ethnocentric, but it’s reality. yeah, I don’t [00:31:30] know. I’m excited to see who might surprise me, of who maybe I’m not thinking of.
and then I’m thinking about entertainment. Like we know after Paris, they pass it off to Tom Cruise. Like he was very involved. So I’m just assuming he’s gonna be involved with something. I think right now, whether you love her or not, if they can get Taylor Swift, they’re gonna get Taylor Swift. And, you know, she did some of the voiceovers for, Paris for NBC, so she’s already done some work there.
Travis Kelce [00:32:00] loves the Olympics. He’s very open about that. so I feel like if they can get them involved, they will, because why not? And then I wonder about LA homegrown talent that will be involved. Um, I mean, there’s a huge rap scene. Will they go for diversity in music? I think they should. so it’ll be, it’ll be interesting what they do
Jill Jaracz: Well, I do have Joan Benoit Samuelson at the top of my list ’cause, but it is like so many- Like they have to … to, I have Michael Phelps carrying the [00:32:30] flag. I think he might be a flag bearer.
Oh. And he might be- Yes … somewhere in the torch relay ’cause, you know, when you’re still gonna have tons and tons of Olympians be able to carry the torch in the torch relay somewhere. But I put, I put Michael Phelps as a flag bearer. I mean, yes- Yeah … one of the greatest Olympians of all time, but he is also fortunate to be in a sport that has many medal opportunities.
So- Absolutely … you know, although, I mean, he was, he has the longevity, he is an amazing swimmer. but I’m just [00:33:00] not as inspired by Michael Phelps
Superfan Sarah: that’s fair. He… it’s hard to compare all his medals, which again, commit- Like, he’s incredible. and from a medal perspective, it’s undisputed that he has the most medals.
Like, we know this. But for, like, comparison to maybe someone who just runs a marathon, like- Right. You might go to three Olympics, and the most you can do is three medals, which would still be beyond incredible. so yeah, I, I know what you’re [00:33:30] saying. but he’s so popular, and it’s recency bias that- Yes, yes
I think, I think to draw more viewers, they have to incorporate him and give him a spot.
Jill Jaracz: Oh,
Superfan Sarah: yeah, somewhere.
Jill Jaracz: Um- He will be involved, and Carl Lewis- Mm … will be involved. it’ll be interesting because I remember watching LA ’84 and not knowing who Rafer Johnson was, and he lit the cauldron.
Mm. Yeah. And I remember the announcers being very excited that Rafer Johnson was lighting the cauldron. I feel like a cauldron is [00:34:00] legend status almost. And like you say, we have so many Olympians. I don’t know if they’ll choose people in that run-up that will be competing in LA.
You know, the, pressure might be different, especially with athletics coming first.
Will some of these athletes even want to show up? But, uh, who knows? so many people to choose from. How do you narrow it down?
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. I mean- Like- And I like basketball, but I wouldn’t be [00:34:30] surprised if they also pull out the Dream Team because that was such a big thing, or the Redeem Team as they’re called.
LA likes basketball. Like, they know that that would get peop- I, like, I feel like there’s gonna be mentions of that, which again, if they can get Michael Jordan to do something, I bet they will. but yeah, I have this vision, like even if she’s not lighting the cauldron, ’cause I don’t think she will, but like we need Joan to run into the Coliseum.
Like, we need- Yes. Yes. Yes … she has to, she has to retrace her steps. [00:35:00]
Jill Jaracz: Yes.
Superfan Sarah: Right. So I, I don’t even care about her lighting the cauldron, like she just, she needs to be the one to bring it in. Right?
Jill Jaracz: Oh, so much speculation to do over the
Superfan Sarah: next- I know … few years. I know. Uh, but- We’re still… Again, we’re two years out.
There might be more retirements to come. There’s go- there will be more comebacks. doesn’t mean they’re gonna make the team, but, like, there will be more comeback announcement. There’s gonna be retirement announcement. Someone’s gonna get injured and not be able to compete, but then that might put them in a [00:35:30] relay of running the torch, you know?
Who wants to run in the LA28 torch relay?
yeah, which my shameless plug for myself, I must say, you know, once upon a time I had this dream of being Team USA’s number one fan, and then that happened in 2017, you know, which makes me feel so old that that was so long ago. you know, ’cause that- that’s how this all started. And, well, actually, no, the fandom started forever ago, but, you know, getting the official title, that meant the world to me.
That was one of my lifelong dreams, [00:36:00] and then I ha- you know, I had to have another dream. And so my ultimate dream is, like, if the torch comes through Da- or if the flame comes through Dallas, or really anywhere that I will drive to, I need to run with the flame. so anyone who is listening that has any kind of power, whatever special thing I need to do as a non-rich individual, like-
I- just let me know. Like, I’ll go, I’ll go rescue some kittens. Like, I’ll go do- [00:36:30] I’ll go do whatever. But I’ve been shamelessly networking with anyone that will listen to me. Like, not too long ago, I met someone who has connections to Delta Airlines, and I was like, “Excuse me. Hi. Um, what do you know about marketing?
So can you put me in touch- … with the people that will be helping, like, with a potential relay?” They were like, “What are you talking about?” Well, we’ll see what we
Alison Brown: can do … but- We
Superfan Sarah: do know a few folks. You know, you know, if you don’t ask, it- it, like, if I don’t state it, then people may not know. But I don’t mind [00:37:00] shamelessly begging to be part of the relay.
Again, especially if it comes through Dallas, ’cause I know it’s come through Dallas before.
Alison Brown: Yeah, that’ll be exciting. We haven’t gotten the, uh, the word yet on what the torch relay is gonna look like. Is it gonna be nationwide? Is it how long it’s gonna be? It better be. All those kinds of things. Yeah, I expect it will be, because I mean, they’re having soccer all over the country.
So I think- Mm-hmm … the torch has got, you know, at least 3,000 miles it’s gotta cover.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. I mean, it’s got probably through Oklahoma, so- Yes.
Alison Brown: Has [00:37:30] to.
Superfan Sarah: Come on. I will become the biggest Oklahoma fan that I need to be temporarily. Like, am I still a little bit salty that Oklahoma gets to say they’re hosting the Olympics before Texas?
Absolutely. Like, but I will go and I will cross that Red River if it means that I get to put my hands on a torch.
Jill Jaracz: We will put in the good word for you. With whatever we have, whatever- … our powers may be.[00:38:00]
Looking ahead to the LA28 Paralympics
We’ll do it. What about the Paralympics? What are you excited about there?
Superfan Sarah: Oh, goodness. Everything. I am excited to see… You know, we talk about, like, the World Cup, is it gonna grow soccer? You know, all these questions. And having a home Olympics, is that also gonna grow some of our sports, that are less popular?
I am hoping to see the Paralympics happening in LA continue to grow Paralympic sports at the collegiate level. you know, I’ve talked about this on here before, I think, [00:38:30] but I live close enough to a college that has a wheelchair basketball team. so I hope that those sports continue to grow, in terms of opportunities.
And, and I think it will. I think that there, that we will see a significant impact there. but yeah, again, I am excited, much like the Olympics, to see which athletes are sticking around because it’s a home games. And I will say, as someone who’s never been to the Paralympics before, [00:39:00] I am hopeful that I will finally make it to the Paralympics with it being in LA, and just being able to hop on a flight, which as it stands, I currently have some special flight benefits, so when I say hop on a flight, let’s be clear, it’s not ’cause I have a private jet.
Um, but yeah, thanks to my spouse, uh, who works for an airline. But that being said, you know, I’m hopeful that even if it’s a weekend in LA… I mean, realistically, I probably have a better shot at [00:39:30] getting more Paralympics tickets than Olympics tickets. Part of me wishes that was not the case. However, as a super fan, if I can rope a bunch of other people into being like, “Let’s go to LA for the weekend.
Go check this out. Come on. Come with me. Like, let’s do a girls’ trip,” whatever that looks like, I’m hoping that I can grow the popularity in my circles, , but also get to be there. And yeah. Are we gonna see Jessica Long? Are we gonna keep seeing Oksana? Like, let’s go.
Come on. Come back, [00:40:00] girls.
Jill Jaracz: Oh. I’m very excited- That’s very exciting … for Paralympics in LA because, like, I wish we could stop the narrative of, well, we’re gonna grow a parasport in this country, and then we’re gonna move on and grow parasport in Brisbane and Australia. Yeah. But, you know, I just want parasport to have its own place in people’s hearts.
Superfan Sarah: Yes.
Jill Jaracz: But there’s, it feels like there’s also so much organization that needs to be done to create something that people will pay [00:40:30] attention to, like, on a national level. But you, you also have, and, and understanding limited resources as well as you gotta build grassroot, stuff at the grassroots level and get people involved.
But, like, these sports are so cool.
Superfan Sarah: I know. I must say, I really hope that we get to catch some sitting volleyball. I have played sitting volleyball before, and it was so much fun. But we did get to see, several years ago, we were up in Oklahoma, [00:41:00] because that’s where the sitting volleyball team, the national team, I think if they still are, that’s where they were based.
And so we were up there for, actually Olympic trials in 2016 for, uh, canoe, which- Mm … you know, preview of things to come. And they, it was smart of them. They had a demo going on of the national team doing sitting volleyball, and it was exciting to watch it in person. again, that’s a sport that I wish it was easy for me to just on a random night go find a sitting volleyball match [00:41:30] in Dallas, but it’s a little more difficult.
so yeah, I, it, that is a sport that I would encourage people, pay attention to it. It’s really, really cool.
Join our Summer of Nostalgia!
Jill Jaracz: we’re gonna talk some specific LA 2028 announcements, but first, we wanted to let you know about a fun opportunity over on our Patreon page, patreon.com/flamealivepod.
I have been cleaning out files over the last several weeks, and during June, July, and August, we’re celebrating the Summer of Nostalgia and sharing [00:42:00] never before seen photos and videos from games we’ve attended in person. So, uh, if you’ve listened to our daily games recap episodes during this games, you know that we, , find the unusual to showcase in photos and in podcasting.
So I find very unusual photos hanging out like, “Oh, throwing some shade on some different entities behind the scenes.” so June, we did Beijing 2022. July is Paris ’24, and August will be Milano Cortina [00:42:30] 2026. Two ways to get access to this. You can join our Patreon, ’cause all m- all paying members get photos, and if you’re at the $5 a month and up, you get video, or you can buy a collection.
So for a flat fee, you get access to photos, videos, or both. Patreon patrons ensure that this show keeps going, and they cover operating expenses, which this year we’ve had some vendor price hikes. We’ve had some legal fees to cover, so we are on the lookout for more people to join this group. [00:43:00] so we hope you want to get your dose of games nostalgia today. Go to patreon.com/flamealivepod, and thank you to everybody who supports us in this method
Superfan Sarah: But hold on. Can I say, though- Yeah … I’m enjoying the nostalgia. Oh, are you? Good. I’ve been, I’ve… Yes. I’ve been getting, I’ve been getting the emails, and I enjoy it.
And especially Paris, since I was there, as a fan. Like, there are things that you have shared, and I’m like, “Oh yeah, I remember this,” or, “Oh, I did see something similar.” So it’s been [00:43:30] fun for me, too.
Jill Jaracz: Excellent. Well, thank you so much. Thank you for your patronage.
LA28 volunteer applications are open
All right, we have LA 2028 news that volunteer applications are open, so that is great.
LA twen- uh, 28 program has two ways to volunteer. You can volunteer during the games and in the community. Community volunteers are local to the LA area. They, they currently do monthly events with local organizations. So they’ll do cleanups, they’ll do restoration projects, that kind of thing, to help build up the city and make it more [00:44:00] beautiful.
we talked last week about the volunteer application process. So if you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, go back and do that, and that tells you more about what goes on during the volunteer application. Oklahoma City said they will need 6 to 8,000 volunteers. Applications will be open t- until January, according to KFOR News 4.
as we mentioned last week, all of the host cities will need volunteers in some way. Now we know how many Oklahoma City needs.
Alison Brown: [00:44:30] And that’s a lot. That’s no small, number there.
Jill Jaracz: No, no. Well, two sports over a long time. So th- they’ve got some, a lot of… Uh, they’ll have a lot of, like, team, volunteers, I’m sure, needing to be assigned and that kind of stuff.
So yeah, pretty-
Alison Brown: And they have a village, so you need all the village volunteers as well.
Will MLB players compete at LA28?
Jill Jaracz: in baseball, we might get Major League players. Apparently, the owners are on board, but the pl- MLB Players Association is still negotiating. Sticking [00:45:00] points, according to ESPN, uh, seem to be hotel rooms, tickets, insurance, name, image, likeness rights, and a mandatory participation agreement.
So that’s still on the radar. We’ll keep looking.
More (climate-controlled) hospitality packages available for LA28
We have more hospitality packages coming from On Location. So they have announced packages for equestrian and diving, and new packages for athletics, beach volleyball, and golf. A lot of their press release talked about climate-controlled [00:45:30] spaces.
Alison Brown: Much appreciated, climate control spaces
Jill Jaracz: So there’s, a lot of stuff on On Location’s website, and we’ll link to that in the show notes.
If you buy a leisure level hospitality package at certain zones with multiple venues, you’ll have access to a hospitality pavilion. These will be in the Valley Zone, the Carson Zone, the Long Beach Zone, and the Downtown LA Zone.
, They are also climate controlled. They give you a food item and a welcome drink, [00:46:00] and there’s more stuff for purchase, and you can watch sports on the big screen. It sounded like they would be another Club 26, but instead of having one location, they’re gonna have multiple locations. I’ve asked loca- On Location about this and haven’t heard back from them, but we’ll…
But, but that’s the vibe I am getting from that stuff.
Alison Brown: And that makes a lot of sense that they would do it in the multiple spots because this way you go to one event in a zone and then you have this other thing you can do while you’re there.
Jill Jaracz: Yes.
Alison Brown: Or if you’re [00:46:30] going to two events and you have some time in between, you have a nice cool comforting space with a drink and a food item.
What more do you need?
Jill Jaracz: Exactly. July 28th more stuff will drop. Equestrian will have a premium lounge. Football is gonna have a finals leisure lounge. Basketball is gonna have an interesting program called Follow My Team. That is a package that guarantees a seat at three preliminaries and one quarterfinal for a specific country and gives you a [00:47:00] hospitality option.
There’s a long list of countries that are going to be available for purchase, more than that will qualify for the, the games. So there was like 15 and 16 teams available, but I believe it’s just a 12 per- 12 team tournament. So again, I have a question into On Location as to what happens if your team does not get chosen, what happens to those tickets if, or if you still want them, Would you be able to return them or transfer them into something else? Don’t know. Hopefully we’ll find out. August more things will [00:47:30] drop, so football will have some finals loge boxes and then badminton, cricket, and rhythmic gymnastic packages will drop as well.
Big, big house This is
Alison Brown: exciting.
More hospitality houses announced for LA28
Jill Jaracz: Houseparty.blog had a bunch of stuff. and you talked about soaking up the Olympics atmosphere, Sarah. There’s just gonna be… You don’t even need tickets to get a dose of Olympic joy. Just go to LA. Yeah. Africa House- Yeah … is official.
It will be the [00:48:00] Afro Village House at Media Park in Culver City. Uh, there is a website, afrovillagehouse.com. Cabo Verde will have a house, and if you loved them during the World Cup and got some Cabo Verde fever, you will be excited that they will have a house at the Hawthorne Memorial Center in Hawthorne.
Deutsche’s house will be back. It will be at the Bel Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades. Romania plans to have a house. They have registered an interest in a [00:48:30] location in Beverly Hills, but we don’t have a confirmation of anything. And then found out that Beverly Hills has a city council standing committee for the games.
They have received a request from the Israeli Olympic Committee to host a Munich 1972 memorial event hosted by them, the German Olympic Committee, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee. So we will keep an eye on that and see what happens with that as well gotta be big. I cannot believe all of the hospitality houses that w- are probably still yet [00:49:00] to come.
Alison Brown: I know. We’ve had such a list so far. I mean, House Party, blog has been busy, busy, busy just keeping up with all this news. And I’m working on a newsletter with things we know about LA, and I’m like, “I can’t list all these houses. I’m just gonna have to direct people- … elsewhere,” because we already know a few dozen- Right
that are, that are u- up and, and have locations, and it’s not, “Oh, we plan to have a house.” No, we’re having a house here, and these are the hours, and this is what’s gonna be [00:49:30] there. So the hospitality house has really rooted firmly as part of the tradition now.
Jill Jaracz: Right. And you could decide, oh, I’m gonna go to LA for a week, and you’ve only managed to get tickets to, like, the first day you’re there and the last day you’re there.
You could fill up that entire time in between with hospitality houses.
Alison Brown: Hospitality houses. And they’re great.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah, they’re a lot of fun, and I’ve heard stories of people not… I’m not optimistic of this happening in LA, but I’ve heard stories of people who hang at the hospitality [00:50:00] houses and end up scoring tickets to events where someone might just say, “Oh, I’ve got these extra tickets.
Would you like to go?” again, I, I’m not optimistic of that being the norm in LA, but you never know. Like, you really never know.
Jill Jaracz: So great place to check out the culture, much like Wilson. You could learn your flags.
Superfan Sarah: Yes. Yeah, I mean, we took him to Denmark House in, Paris, and they had all the Legos there, and he thought that was so cool.
so [00:50:30] yeah, it’s great. But I’m also very intrigued and looking forward to seeing the individual, national governing bodies that are doing houses, like artistic swimming and stuff like that. I’m curious to see how many end up having those individual houses.
Jill Jaracz: Yeah. It’s gonna be incredible to see what all goes down.
And I think just the whole… It’s gonna be like SoCal just turns all Olympic, and heaven forbid you don’t like the Olympics because you’re- Yeah … gonna get sucked into it in some [00:51:00] way, shape, or form.
Superfan Sarah: Yeah. If you don’t like it, just go out. We’ll r- we’ll take care of your house for a couple weeks. It’ll be fine.
Alison Brown: It’s really true. House swap with us- Yes … and y- you can be the official Stuck with Stan house. Your house could be the official Stuck with Stan house- There you go … if you don’t wanna be in LA during the games. Let us know.
Superfan Sarah: Honestly, let that be a sponsorship for the podcast.
Jill Jaracz: Right, right. Make that happen.
All right. that’s gonna do it for this episode. We appreciate you listening. Hope you’ve enjoyed the show.[00:51:30]
All this detail stuff, like Alison said, she’s working on a newsletter about what’s, , going on with two years to go to LA. You can find that at, , Substack. Go to flamealivepod.com. Scroll down to the bottom. Sign up for the free newsletter. Get it every week.
It’s a ton of fun to read. , We also did some speculation about what’s k- kicked out of Brisbane 2032, so that’s a good read as well. , But yeah, Sarah, thank you so much for joining us. It’s been delightful to [00:52:00] have you back.
Superfan Sarah: Thank you so much.
Jill Jaracz: And as Team USA’s number one fan- … I think we’ll be checking in with you more regularly as we get closer and closer to LA 2028.
Superfan Sarah: Sounds great.
Jill Jaracz: Thank you so much for listening.
Alison Brown: And until next time, keep the flame alive.