With 625 days to go until the 2028 Summer Olympics, LA28 unveiled its official slogan for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and it's a nod not only to a memorable symbol of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics but also to what many consider Los Angeles to be all about:
Stars.
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, LA28 announced that "Stars Align" will be the official slogan of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, launching the slogan with a short film
.It’s no surprise that LA28 is paying homage to another Olympic Games that it is linked to in a myriad of ways: the 1984 L.A. Summer Olympics. The logo of those long-ago Games was called "Stars in Motion," a design featuring three red, white and blue overlapping stars and 13 horizontal stripes. It lives on to this day
in countless closets and drawers where fans who attended those Olympics have stuffed the hat, T-shirt or flag they bought 42 years ago.
"Stars have always represented hope, possibility and the belief that something extraordinary can happen, which is very much at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," LA28 chief marketing officer Alex Merchán told USA TODAY Sports in a text message sent through a spokesperson. "For Los Angeles, the symbolism is especially meaningful. From our history as the entertainment capital of the world to the 'Stars in Motion' emblem of the 1984 Games, stars are woven into the identity of our city."
But there’s more to the stars theme than that, Merchán said.
"They also connect us to the rest of the country, with 50 stars representing 50 states, all of which will be part of the Torch Relay for the first time in 2028. But the most important stars are the athletes, fans and communities from around the world who will make these Games unforgettable. 'Stars Align' captures that collective spirit and the extraordinary moment when the world comes together in Los Angeles in 2028 locally, nationally and globally."
LA28's "Stars Align" joins the well-known Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together," and the Paralympic motto, "Change Starts with Sport."
Every Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee comes up with a slogan. Most recently, Rio went with "A New World" in 2016, Tokyo’s slogan was "United by Emotion" for the 2020 Olympics that were postponed to 2021 due to Covid and Paris chose "Games Wide Open" for the 2024 Olympics.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LA Olympics launches official slogan with callback to 1984 Summer Olympics
