The list of politicians urging Casey Wasserman to step down as chairman of LA28 expanded daily. Many prominent figures from his talent agency added their voices after emails between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell were discovered in the Epstein files in February. Despite concerns about his position leading efforts for Los Angeles’ first Olympic Games since 1984, Wasserman maintained his stance.
When questioned about the possibility of resigning, Wasserman responded candidly on Thursday. He acknowledged speaking with Mayor Karen Bass, who was among the locals calling for his resignation. Wasserman emphasized the frequency and importance of his conversations with Bass, noting that their discussions are private and focus on a shared vision for delivering outstanding Games for the city.
Bass is currently engaged in a tightly contested primary election, where she advances toward a November runoff. Her competition includes Spencer Pratt, a reality TV personality, and City Councilmember Nithya Raman. Meanwhile, the California gubernatorial race features Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra in a fierce contest.
Wasserman reflected on political transitions, highlighting that the local organizing committee has witnessed four different presidential administrations since the Games bid began in 2015. He stressed that the success of the committee depends on relationships, not individual politicians. Wasserman commended his team for maintaining effective connections with local, state, and federal partners.
Although Wasserman remained discreet following his association with the Epstein files’ revelation, the LA28 executive committee continued to support him. They cited his strong leadership over a decade as a reason for their backing. The IOC coordination commission also expressed confidence in the LA28 team, praising their readiness and capability.
LA28 is making significant financial strides, securing $2 billion in sponsorships and nearing its $2.5 billion target. The Games promise to be privately funded, with domestic sponsorship as the primary revenue source. Ticketing and hospitality, the second-largest revenue source, began robustly, as evidenced by over 4 million tickets sold in the first ticket drop. Fans can register for tickets at tickets.la28.org until July 22.
The CEO of LA28, Reynold Hoover, assured fans of fair ticketing practices. As clarity on seating arrangements emerges, fans will receive precise seat allocations. Hoover stressed that the organizing committee has learned from FIFA World Cup’s ticketing issues and is committed to transparency.
While LA28 monitors the World Cup’s operations, the scale of the Olympic Games far exceeds that of eight World Cup matches. The 2028 Olympics will host nearly 11,000 athletes, followed by an extensive Paralympic Games. Both events signify historic milestones for Los Angeles.