Few collective experiences celebrated around the world inspire goal setting, demonstrate the power of teamwork and teach the value in reaching for dreams as powerfully as the Olympics. And with Los Angeles set to host the games in 2028, this summer is the perfect time to start making Olympic-sized memories with our children.
Big dreams begin at home
I first became a fan of the Olympics in the summer of 1976, when I gathered with my friends to watch Queen Elizabeth proclaim the opening of the Montreal Olympic Games. The kids in my neighborhood decided to host our own “backyard Olympics.” Apparently, I wasn’t the only child inspired by those games. Olympic track and field gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee said, “It wasn’t until I was 14 and watched the 1976 Olympic games on television that I really started to dream about the big time.” Watching UCLA’s Evelyn Ashford compete in the 100-meters dash inspired Joyner-Kersee to also become a Bruin and eventually compete and medal in four Olympics.
Back in the ‘70s, we turned the shiny insides of Peter Pan peanut butter jars into gold medals. We covered Smucker’s jelly lids with tin foil to make the silver medals. Bronze medal recipients received brown construction paper circles with BRONZE written on them in black crayon. We threw a broomstick javelin and a baking potato shotput, measured our long jumps with yardsticks and were covered in grass following our summersault-filled floor exercises.
The memories we made have lasted a lifetime, which is why I’ve continued the tradition with my own children every four years, including last summer when, in between watching the events in Paris, relatives and friends who happened by our house stood a chance to medal in kickboard races in the pool, water polo with a Vaseline-covered watermelon or a USA version of P-I-G at our local basketball court. We even played a round of Olympic Yahtzee.
The good news is you don’t have to wait for the games to come to L.A. to get in on the action. Here are a few fun activities you can do this summer to inspire your aspiring athletes to get moving and dreaming of going for the gold!
New ways to get active
Run by L.A.’s Department of Recreation and Parks, PlayLA is set to impact more than one million kids by the time the 2028 Olympic torch is lit. It boasts a broad array of youth athletic programs, including 26 Olympic and 10 Paralympic sports. Local public pools are not just for swimming. Many also offer water polo, synchronized swimming and kayaking lessons. Flag football will be a new Olympic sport in 2028, and multiple locations offer classes and leagues to join.
Inclusivity for every young athlete
Most summer leagues and clinics through PlayLA kick off July 7. Go to laparks.org/play-la to register for these low- to no-cost sports supported by a $160 million investment from LA28 and the International Olympic Committee.
Though Los Angeles hosted the Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984, the 2028 Olympics will mark L.A.’s first time ever also hosting the Paralympic Games and, with that in mind, the adaptive sports offerings by PlayLA are robust, including tennis, para-equestrian opportunities and wheelchair basketball.
“PlayLA Youth and Adaptive Youth Sports Program has transformed the way we deliver sports to our youth,” says Department of Recreation and Parks General Manager Jimmy Kim. “We have been able to provide access to high-quality, inclusive and affordable Olympic and Paralympic style sports for kids. This movement reflects the spirit of the Games and ensures that this generation grows up with the opportunity to play, compete and dream in their own communities.”
Days and evenings full of fun
Summer Night Lights (SNL) is the extended recreation program at 40 public park sites across the city. Families and teens can enjoy a variety of activities with extended evening hours Thursdays through Saturdays, often including free food and movie nights. South Park, Hubert Humphrey and Costello recreation centers all have SNL kickoff events slated for July 10.
PlayLA Day – July 14 will mark three years until the opening ceremonies of the 2028 Olympics, and PlayLA will celebrate with a free event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering Olympic-inspired activities for kids and families at L.A. Memorial Coliseum (the first venue in the world to host three Olympic Opening Ceremonies!). Registration is required. Go to laparks.org and search “PlayLA Day.”
Attention older kids –PlayLAis hiring coaches, especially for specialty sports such as skateboarding, fencing and archery. For more information, contact PlayLA via email at rap.playla@lacity.org.
GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play – Just across Exposition Park from the iconic Coliseum, you’ll find GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play, an all-new interactive exhibit at the California Science Center. Aspiring young Olympians can participate in hands-on activities and learn the science behind success.
“GAME ON! is engaging from the moment you enter the colorful space,” says Alyson Goodall, senior vice president and chief advancement officer for the California Science Center Foundation. “It’s incredibly immersive and interactive, and a wonderful opportunity for children to practice skills for familiar sports or try something new, all with virtual guidance from mentor athletes and rooted in core science principles.”
Imagine practicing your swing and having Dodgers first baseman and World Series Champion Freddie Freeman offer tips on how to plant your feet with video playback! How about virtually swimming alongside Paralympian Jamal Hill as he demonstrates the physics of thrust, drag, buoyancy and gravity that helped him win his bronze medal? How cool would it be if your soccer-loving child could get kicking advice from Angel City FC’s sister duo Alyssa and Gisele Thompson? And then there is “Lethal Shooter” Chris Matthews, who has worked as a shooting coach for numerous WNBA and NBA standouts. At GAME ON!, young athletes can learn the science behind the flight path speed of a basketball and test the arc and angle of their own shots.
“One of the best parts,” adds Goodall, “is that even if you’re not the one doing the activity, kids are gathering around, cheering each other on as they explore the science and test their skills.”
Thanks to the collaboration between the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, the LA84 Foundation and the Walter Family Foundation, the 17,000-square-feet exhibition is included with free admission to the California Science Center, though groups of 15 or more need timed reservations. Call 213.744.2019 or visit californiasciencecenter.org.
Your own backyard or local park
If you want to stay closer to home, why not bring the games to your own yard or a nearby park and use these easy ideas as inspiration?
- Jar lids can be spray painted gold, silver and bronze if you want to get crafty while recycling and repurposing with your kids. Don’t have lids, ribbons or time? Many companies offer easy options. Visit orientaltrading.com for starters.
- Got a ping pong table or badminton set? Encourage your children to work on their skills throughout the summer with a friendly competition planned before school begins again.
- If you have a pool for diving or a grassy space for a gymnastics floor exercise, make the judge’s score cards, make a list of moves that earn points and let kids rate the moves they like best.
- Set up races down the sidewalk or around a park path. Let kids who don’t want to run keep the times.
Making summer memories shine
There is still time to get your young gymnasts and synchronized swimmers, weightlifters and badminton champions to put down their electronics and start dreaming of gold.
It might be one of their favorite memories of the summer of 2025, and it might get them thinking about what sports they’d like to see in person when the Olympics come to town in just three summers!
Suzanne Weerts is an author, teacher and producer who loves sports but is far more effective as a fan than an athlete.
