Long Beach will be the host city for 11 events at the Los Angeles Olympics of 2028. Long Beach is a vibrant coastal town in southeast Los Angeles County, with a rich sporting and cultural heritage.

Los Angeles Mayor Rex Richardson says the city will be ready to take its place on the world stage with beach volleyball, water-polo, sailing, and sport climbing.

Richardson said that many people may not be aware of the great city Long Beach.

It's a chance to come out from the shadows. By population, we're one of the top 40 cities in the United States. We are larger than Miami. We are larger than St. Louis, New Orleans and Miami.

"We have the largest combined port of Los Angeles and Long Beach in the United States, as well as a beautiful, iconic coast with the Queen Mary, and nine miles of California coastline."

Long Beach will be familiar to many music fans around the globe due to the frequent mention of the city in the songs by hip-hop legend Snoop, Team USA hypeman and 90s ska punk pioneers Sublime.

It has also produced many sports stars.

Billie Jean King is a tennis icon, Misty May Treanor has won three Olympic beach volleyball titles and NBA superstar Russell Westbrook was the 2012 Olympic gold winner.

Woodrow Wilson High school, located in Long Beach, has alumni who have participated in all Summer Games that the United States has taken part in since 1952. It is thought to be the high school with the most Olympians.

Long Beach State University has produced Olympic-caliber athletes in swimming, water polo and volleyball.

THE LBC

Long Beach will be involved in the 2028 Games for the third time.

Marine Stadium, originally built for rowing events in the 1932 Games, will be used again to host rowing and sprint canoeing on the first ever manmade rowing track.

The Games will once again be hosted by the waterfront of the city, which was the site for the Games in 1984.

Richardson stated that hosting large-scale events was nothing new for the city.

Last month, in the shadows of the Long Beach Convention Center, and Long Beach Arena which will be used in 2028, over 200,000 people attended the 50th anniversary of the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Last weekend, the 60th anniversary of the popular Congressional Cup Regatta took place off Veteran Memorial Pier in Long Beach. The sea breeze that is so characteristic of Long Beach was present.

Richardson, looking out over the expanses of white soft sand, said, "These are historic, world class venues and we can't be more excited to display them for the world."

Richardson, the Long Beach Olympic venue manager for LA28, said that fans would have several options to choose from when moving between the six venues.

He said "You can circuit", referring to the free electric vehicle service offered by the city.

You can also walk, scooter or bike to all of the locations along our nine-mile coastline.

"While they're there they'll be able to see the investment we made in our beach and coastline. They'll also get to taste some of the finest beach concessions that America has, where you can enjoy a hotdog or a steak with a martini.

We can't wait for the world to see the experience we have created and developed in Long Beach.

(source: Reuters)