LA28 and city officials on Monday marked 1,000 days out from the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games by showcasing a climbing facility in Westchester, as the sport will make its Paralympic debut in 2028.
On Monday morning, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Traci Park led a visit alongside LA28 representatives to Sender One Climbing, a family-owned business that provides a space for beginner and advanced athletes of all ages and abilities. The 2028 Paralympic Games will be the first time Los Angeles will serve as host city for the international event.
“In just 1,000 days, we will have made history after hosting successful Paralympic Games, and we will be looking forward to a lasting legacy for Angelenos with disabilities,” Bass said in a statement.
She also encouraged residents and visitors to explore Sender One Climbing, where “climbing is all about community.”
“This is what the Games are all about — promoting our L.A. businesses and bringing the community together in the name of sport. When the torch is extinguished following the Paralympic Closing Ceremony at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, we will see a more accessible and thriving Los Angeles,” Bass said in a statement.
The climbing events in 2028 will be held in the Convention Center Lot in Long Beach, according to LA28.
The closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games will close a three-year period of major sporting events, following the World Cup in 2026 and Super Bowl in 2027.
“Hosting the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles for the first time will be an incredible event not just for the city, but also for millions of people worldwide who live with a disability,” Reynold Hoover, LA28 CEO, who was unable to attend Monday’s news conference, said in a statement.
“They will see their community celebrated on a global stage as we welcome 4,480 Paralympians whose stories and achievements will challenge stereotypes, shift perceptions, and inspire even greater advocacy for accessibility and opportunity,” Hoover added.
Park, who represents the 11th Council District, encompassing the city’s Westside coastal neighborhoods, added that she is proud that CD11 will play a major role in the 2028 Games.
“As we expand adaptive sports programming across Los Angeles and celebrate equity on the international stage, hosting iconic Paralympic events in the heart of Venice is the exact image LA wants to show the world,” Park said in a statement.
Alice Kao, CEO and co-founder of Sender One Climbing, described the 2028 Games as a “monumental time” for the city and the climbing community.
“Sender One is humbled and grateful to be able to set the stage for the 2028 Paralympic and Olympic Games, while celebrating the debut of Para Climbing as a major step forward for inclusivity within climbing,” Kao said in a statement.