LA28 Olympics Reveal Hollywood Bigwig Behind Opening, Closing Ceremonies

Support Local Media - Click to Add LA Sports Report as a Preferred Source on GoogleAcademy Award-nominated film producer Kathleen Kennedy will oversee the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.Kennedy, who produced films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and the most recent trilogy of Star Wars films, will head the team of producers designing the ceremonies for the Olympics as well as the Paralympics, the organizing committee. “As Executive Producer of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Kennedy will help shape how LA28 welcomes the world and delivers an unforgettable farewell to athletes and audiences around the globe,” a statement from the Olympic organizers reads. “This appointment reinforces LA28’s commitment to harness the unparalleled creativity, cultural influence and storytelling power of the entertainment capital of the world to deliver Ceremonies that are distinctly Los Angeles and leave a lasting impression on the global stage.”Kennedy replaced Peter Rice, formerly the president of 21st Century Fox and current chief content officer at Netflix, as the head of ceremonies and content.“Kathleen is a legend,” said LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman. “She is one of Hollywood’s all-time greats, with a rare gift for storytelling. When the stars align to focus the world’s attention on Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I can’t think of anyone better to conjure the magic of Hollywood than Kathleen.”The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium will jointly hold the opening ceremony for the games, and the closing ceremony will be exclusively held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.What is Kathleen Kennedy’s Connection to the Olympics?While Kennedy is more known for her accomplishments in film than her connection to the Olympics, she is a longtime fan of the event and clearly looks forward to her involvement.“The Olympics have been a touchstone in my life. My husband, Frank Marshall, and I have attended virtually every Games since Los Angeles in 1984, and sport remains one of the great unifying experiences we share,” Kennedy said. “Peter Rice has laid a terrific foundation, and I can’t wait to get to work with Ben Winston, our creative director, and the whole LA28 team. These Games are rooted in Los Angeles, but with events from Oklahoma City to LA28’s six incredible soccer/football cities, all of America gets to host the world’s finest athletes, and I’m honored to help celebrate every Olympian and Paralympian who comes to compete.”Kennedy will have the opportunity to strike the glove with awe in the opening ceremony of the worldwide event, which begins July 14, 2028.The post LA28 Olympics Reveal Hollywood Bigwig Behind Opening, Closing Ceremonies appeared first on LA Sports Report.