When Los Angeles won its bid to host the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, the city also secured a $160 million grant for youth sports programs through the city’s recreation and parks department.
Known as “Youth Sports Partnership,” the money was meant to fund “Play LA,” the city’s commitment to expanding youth sports and recreation programming in the lead up to the Olympic Games. However, the program was upended by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Now, years later, very little of the $160 million has actually been used, so in a massive increase from 2023-2024 funding of $14.81 million, the program is asking for $30.54 million in the 2024-2025 funding year.
So far, the program has used a total of $44.62 million of the $160 million since 2018. Prior to COVID-19, the plan was to allocate the money evenly, with $19.2 million being used each year until 2028.
According to The Sports Examiner, “Even with the request for $30.54 million for 2024-25, the LA28 funding commitment will still have $84.84 million remaining, still well behind the original funding schedule.”
The Recreation and Parks Department submitted its plan for the 2024-2025 funding last week. The plan allocates two-thirds of the money to fund recreational leagues and classes for low-income communities, $1.6 million for aquatic swim classes, $1.7 million for Safe Sport marketing and $7 million to enhance the signature youth sports programs which include, “archery, boxing, climbing, equestrian, fencing, karate, table tennis and triathlon.”
The Play LA program reaches 125 recreation centers across the city, and it funds recreational leagues as well as clinics in specific sports. Participants can choose from golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, rugby, tennis, track and field, basketball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, diving, field hockey and more. There are seemingly endless possibilities as the program continues to expand. Initially, the Play LA program was heavily focused on aquatics. Since the end of COVID-19 restrictions and an increase in the use of funding, the team has been able to expand into most other sports. There are even offerings for adaptive sports and activities for physically challenged participants.
