Behind every great Olympic moment are countless local heroes.
Beginning next month, Santa Monica residents can apply to join the 60,000-person crew that will handle everything from crowd control to language translation during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. LA28 will open Games-time volunteer applications on July 14, 2026—exactly two years before the Opening Ceremony.
What Volunteers Will Do
From welcoming and guiding spectators and athletes to medical support, and specialized language translation, volunteers are the backbone of Games operations.
Volunteers must commit to a minimum of 10 non-consecutive shifts (approximately 8 hours each) during either the Olympic period (March–August 2028) or the Paralympic period (August–September 2028). Most roles are at venues across the Greater Los Angeles region—including iconic locations like SoFi Stadium and the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Requirements and How to Apply
Anyone 18 or older who speaks, reads, and writes English can apply. U.S. citizenship and California residency are not required. The program is unpaid, and LA28 does not cover travel or lodging expenses.
To sign up:
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- Visit la28.org/volunteer and register for updates
- If you’ve already expressed interest, you’ll receive an email with the application link when it opens July 14
- Complete the application and select your preferred volunteer period and location
Santa Monica’s Role in the Games
While Santa Monica won’t host any Olympic competitions, the city is building excitement through its Celebrate28 program — inclusive, inspiring events designed to ignite community pride and engagement ahead of 2028. Residents can participate by contacting the city at partnerships@santamonica.gov.
The city and LA28 ended formal talks to host beach volleyball at Santa Monica State Beach in April 2025. Both parties supported the decision to move the event elsewhere.
A Free Way Into the Games
For many locals, volunteering is more than a chance to support the Games—it’s the best way to get in for free. While volunteers don’t receive paid compensation, they gain behind-the-scenes access to some of the world’s biggest sporting moments and the chance to be part of Olympic history without buying tickets.
Applications open July 14. For Santa Monicans who’ve dreamed of being part of the Olympics, this is the moment to step in behind the scenes and make it all happen.
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