Long Beach Celebrates National Olympic and Paralympic Day with Youth Sports Festival at Houghton Park

• Extra Large
• Large
• Normal
• Small

PRESS RELEASE

Above: Mayor Rex Richardson, Olympians and Paralympians smile alongside hundreds of youth from across Long Beach who came to Houghton Park for the celebration of National Olympic and Paralympic Day on Tuesday, June 23, 2026; Youth participate in a game of flag rugby, building excitment toward the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Long Beach, CA - Today, more than 600 youth from across Long Beach gathered at Houghton Park for a high-energy celebration of National Olympic and Paralympic Day, enjoying an event filled with sports, teamwork and inspiration. During the day, participants connected with Olympians, Paralympians and other professional athletes, engaged in Olympic and Paralympic sports and experienced firsthand the excitement building toward the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"As Long Beach prepares to welcome the world in 2028, we're committed to ensuring our young people are part of the journey every step of the way," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "National Olympic and Paralympic Day of Sport gave hundreds of Long Beach youth the opportunity to experience the power of sport, connect with inspiring athletes and see firsthand the opportunities these Games will bring to our city. By investing in our youth today, we're helping build a lasting legacy that extends well beyond 2028."

The event introduced participants to a variety of Olympic and Paralympic sports through interactive clinics, games and demonstrations designed to promote physical activity, inclusion and the Olympic and Paralympic spirit. Following a festive Opening Ceremony and parade of nations through the park, youth spent the day rotating through sport stations and activities such as flag football, flag rugby, fencing with noodles, guided running, gymnastics, rowing, soccer, swimming simulation relays, a track and field obstacle course, volleyball, sitting volleyball, weightlifting, yoga and other activities led by athletes, coaches and community partners.

The day concluded with a Closing Ceremony, where several youth were recognized for exuding characteristics of Olympic and Paralympic values, including Friendship, Excellence, Respect, Inspiration, Courage, Equality and Determination, and received medals provided by the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Participants were recruited through Parks, Recreation and Marine summer youth programs, including youth from neighborhoods across the city, with transportation provided by the department to ensure equitable access to the event. Participants also received a complimentary lunch provided by the City, along with other giveaways.

Long Beach's National Olympic and Paralympic Day of Sport event was one of more than 100 sites across the country activating on LA28's Day of Sport. The event was hosted by the City, Ready, Set, Gold! and Leadership Long Beach with additional contributions from Studio One Eleven, Arts Council for Long Beach, Gay for Good, Hidden Genius Project, Long Beach Utilities, LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Rams. Ready, Set, Gold! was sponsored for this event by West Coast Sports Associates.

As a Venue City for the LA28 Games, Long Beach will stage 11 Olympic sporting events and seven Paralympic events. To stay up to date with City of Long Beach's preparations for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, visit longbeach.gov/2028games.

Hosted by the City of Los Angeles, the 2028 Olympic Games will take place July 14 through 30, 2028, and Paralympic Games Aug. 15 through 27, 2028. More information about the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games is available at LA28.org.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

About the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games
LA28 will bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Los Angeles in 2028, uniting more than 15,000 of the world's greatest athletes in a celebration of sport, culture and human potential. Set against a diverse collection of venues only Southern California can deliver, from the Pacific Ocean to Hollywood stages to world-class arenas, Los Angeles will become the third city ever to host three Olympic Games, following 1932 and 1984, and will also host its first ever Paralympic Games. The LA28 Games will celebrate historic milestones including becoming the first Olympic Games in history to allocate more quota spots to women athletes than men, the debut of new Olympic and Paralympic sports and becoming the first Games since 1948 to not build any new permanent infrastructure. Operating as an independently funded, non-profit organization, LA28 has built a strong foundation of successful commercial partnerships alongside licensing, hospitality, ticketing and with the support of the International Olympic Committee.

For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what's happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.