By Lila Brown, California Black Media

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass made history at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this week when she became the first Black woman mayor to ever receive an Olympic flag at the closing ceremony of the two-week-long global competition.

On Aug. 11, Mayor Bass received the Olympic flag as part of the handover ceremony from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who is also the first woman to serve as mayor of France’s capital city.

“When we do that exchanging of the flag, we will be sending a message to girls all across the world that they can do anything,” Bass said Aug. 10, before the ceremony. “They can run for the gold, and they can run for office, or hopefully they’ll do both.”

Bass said the time she spent in Paris will help her and her team prepare to host the 2028 games in Los Angeles, a top priority for her administration.

“We must continue our urgent work ensuring that Angelenos benefit from the preparation for the Games, as well as in the decades following,” said Bass, before leaving for Paris last week.

“Together, we will showcase Los Angeles — not just the popular tourist destinations, but each of our beautiful neighborhoods and communities. We will leverage the Games to help local small businesses, create local jobs and create lasting environmental and transportation improvements throughout Los Angeles.”

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In Paris, during a tour of the media center, Bass answered questions posed by reporters.

“One of the things that I really hope we can replicate in Los Angeles is the 25% commitment that will go to smaller businesses,” she said, responding to a question asked by California Black Media about Los Angeles’s plans to ensure small and minority businesses participate equitably in the procurement process.

“Even the venues here allowed restaurants to have an opportunity. Our focus is on small businesses because we know small businesses hire Angelenos,” Bass added.

Bass also promised that there will be diversity at every level — from the executive of the International Olympic Committee, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and even the Los Angeles 2028 Local Organizing Committee.

To achieve this goal, the Mayor’s Office is hosting roundtables with business associations to receive their input on how best to engage their members and other stakeholders regarding procurement and contract opportunities.

Bass said her office and city departments are also working closely with LA28’s Community Business Working Group, which will develop the plan and specific goals for small and local businesses as a key part of their procurement strategy.

When Bass arrived at LAX on Monday afternoon, she joined Angelenos and other well-wishers to celebrate the Olympic Flag’s official return to Los Angeles for the first time in 40 years.

The delegation included L.A. City Council President Paul Krekorian, Councilmember Traci Park, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, LA84 Foundation President and CEO Renata Simril, and Priscilla Cheng, Senior Vice President for Government Relations at LA28. All three Councilmembers sit on the Ad Hoc Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Councilmembers Park and Yaroslavsky serve as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, and President Krekorian was a member of the Ad Hoc Committee when the host city contract was signed.

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