The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring the world’s greatest athletes to Los Angeles. They will also create an enormous need for talented professionals who can help organize, promote, operate and deliver one of the largest sporting events in the world.

For aspiring sports professionals, LA 2028 represents much more than a competition. It could become one of the biggest sports career opportunities in the United States.

The opportunities will not be limited to athletes, coaches or people who already have years of experience working for professional teams. The Games will require professionals across event operations, marketing, communications, hospitality, technology, transportation, administration and many other fields.

The opportunity is coming. The question is whether you will be prepared for it.

How Will the LA 2028 Olympics Affect the Sports Job Market?

Producing the Olympic and Paralympic Games requires an immense workforce.

LA28 is currently assembling a team of professionals with different backgrounds, experience levels and areas of expertise to help deliver the Games and create an unforgettable experience for athletes and fans. Anyone interested in directly joining the organizing committee should regularly review the official LA28 careers page.

However, the employment impact will extend far beyond positions posted directly by LA28.

Sports organizations, venues, sponsors, media companies, hospitality providers, technology firms, transportation partners, local businesses and event contractors will all need qualified people.

LA28 has announced a goal of directing 75% of its addressable procurement spending toward the Greater Los Angeles region and 25% toward small businesses. That strategy could create opportunities with a large network of companies supporting the Games—not just the organizing committee itself.

This means someone hoping to work around the Olympics should not search only for positions containing the word “Olympics.” Opportunities may appear with:

• Sports organizations and governing bodies
• Stadiums, arenas and competition venues
• Event-management companies
• Corporate sponsors and brand partners
• Television, streaming and media companies
• Marketing and public-relations agencies
• Hospitality and tourism organizations
• Technology and data providers
• Transportation and logistics companies
• Local vendors and Games suppliers

The LA28 careers page is an important place to follow, but it should be only one part of a broader sports career strategy.

What Types of Jobs Will the LA 2028 Olympics Create?

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are not produced by one department. They require people with a wide variety of professional skills.

Event and Venue Operations

Every competition needs trained personnel managing schedules, credentials, equipment, facilities, workforce assignments and the movement of athletes and spectators.

Possible career areas include:

• Event operations
• Venue management
• Game-day operations
• Credentialing
• Equipment management
• Workforce coordination
• Facility operations
• Guest services

These jobs are ideal for organized professionals who can solve problems, communicate clearly and remain composed in a fast-moving environment.

Aspiring professionals who want to understand how large sports organizations and events operate can develop relevant business and leadership skills through the SMWW Sports Administration Course.

Sports Marketing and Sponsorship

The Olympic Games are one of the most valuable sports-marketing platforms in the world. Sponsors will need professionals who can create campaigns, manage partnerships and connect brands with fans.

Potential opportunities may involve:

• Sponsorship sales
• Partnership activation
• Brand marketing
• Digital marketing
• Community relations
• Fan engagement
• Ticket sales
• Corporate hospitality

Employers will look for people who understand both the business of sports and the expectations of major corporate partners.

The SMWW Sports Sales and Marketing Course helps aspiring sports professionals develop practical skills in sales, partnership activation, marketing and revenue generation—the same areas that support teams, venues and international sporting events.

Media, Broadcasting and Content Creation

The stories surrounding the Olympics extend far beyond the final scores.

Media organizations and digital platforms will need people who can interview athletes, produce videos, manage social media, write stories, coordinate press operations and communicate with audiences around the world.

Opportunities may include:

• Sports broadcasting
• Video production
• Social media
• Digital content strategy
• Public relations
• Media relations
• Photography
• Communications
• Broadcast operations

Professionals who understand how to create compelling sports content and communicate with fans across multiple platforms will be increasingly valuable as the Games approach.

SMWW offers online sports career courses covering broadcasting, media, content strategy and other areas of the sports industry.

Technology, Data and Analytics

Modern sporting events depend on technology.

Technology professionals may support ticketing platforms, venue systems, cybersecurity, broadcast infrastructure, data management, digital products and the overall fan experience.

Relevant fields could include:

• Sports technology
• Data analytics
• Information technology
• Cybersecurity
• Digital product management
• Venue technology
• Technical support
• Performance data

Candidates who combine technical knowledge with an understanding of sports may have a valuable competitive advantage.

Administration and Project Management

Behind every event is a team managing budgets, contracts, deadlines, personnel and partnerships.

Administrative opportunities may include:

• Project management
• Sports administration
• Finance
• Human resources
• Legal and compliance
• Procurement
• Vendor management
• Business operations

These professionals may not appear on camera, but they are essential to delivering an event of this size.

The Olympics Will Create Opportunities Beyond Los Angeles

The impact of LA 2028 will not necessarily end with the Closing Ceremony.

Working on an Olympic or Paralympic project can help professionals develop transferable experience in event operations, sponsorship, media, communications, hospitality and sports administration.

Those skills may lead to future opportunities with:

• Professional sports teams
• College athletic departments
• National governing bodies
• Sports agencies
• Stadiums and arenas
• Corporate sponsors
• International federations
• Future global sporting events

Los Angeles will host the Olympics for the third time and the Paralympics for the first time. LA28 also plans to use existing infrastructure rather than build new permanent venues, while emphasizing employment opportunities, workforce development and broader economic benefits for the region.

The real career impact could therefore last well beyond 2028.

Why You Should Start Preparing for LA 2028 Jobs Now

Waiting until the summer of 2028 to begin thinking about an Olympic career would be a mistake.

Major sporting events require years of planning. Organizations build teams, hire contractors, develop partnerships and prepare venues long before the first athlete arrives.

Candidates who begin preparing now have time to:

• Learn how the sports business operates
• Develop specialized, job-relevant skills
• Build a stronger sports resume
• Meet professionals already working in the industry
• Attend sports career conferences and networking events
• Complete informational interviews
• Gain experience through local sporting events
• Follow LA28 employment and supplier announcements
• Build examples of work to show prospective employers

Passion for the Olympics may get you interested. Skills, experience and relationships are what can help get you hired.

One of the best ways to begin developing genuine industry relationships is by attending SMWW Sports Career Conferences, where aspiring professionals can learn from and network with executives, agents, scouts, broadcasters and other sports industry leaders.

How Sports Management Worldwide Can Help You Break Into Sports

Breaking into the sports industry can be difficult because employers frequently want candidates who understand the business, possess relevant skills and already have some connection to the industry.

Sports Management Worldwide helps aspiring professionals develop both what they know and who they know.

SMWW offers online sports career training in areas connected to the types of work required by major sporting events, including:

• Sports management and administration
• Sports sales and marketing
• Media and content strategy
• Broadcasting
• Analytics and technology
• Athlete management
• Public and community relations
• Front-office operations
• Event and game-day operations

SMWW’s eight-week online courses are designed to help students build practical knowledge while learning directly from experienced sports executives.

Students can participate in live interactive video chats with mentors, strengthen their resumes, develop industry relationships and join a worldwide alumni network of more than 30,000 graduates from over 164 countries.

That combination matters because a certificate alone does not guarantee a sports job. Candidates must be able to demonstrate what they know, communicate their value and develop authentic relationships within the industry.

SMWW helps students begin building that foundation.

How to Position Yourself for an Olympic Sports Career

Start by identifying where your existing abilities overlap with the needs of the sports industry.

Someone with a marketing background might pursue sponsorship activation or fan engagement. A logistics professional could target venue operations. A video editor might prepare for sports-content or broadcast opportunities. A data analyst could explore event technology, ticketing or performance analytics.

You do not necessarily have to abandon your current experience and start over. You need to learn how to apply that experience within sports.

A strong preparation plan should include four steps.

1. Choose a Career Direction

“Working in sports” is too broad to be an effective job-search goal.

Identify the department, function or type of work that interests you most. Focus your education, networking and applications around that direction.

2. Develop Industry-Specific Skills

Learn how your chosen area operates within a sports organization.

Study the terminology, technology, processes and expectations employers use. The full directory of SMWW sports career training programs can help you identify a course connected to your intended career path.

3. Build Your Sports Network

Connect with professionals, attend events and conduct informational interviews.

Sports remains a relationship-driven industry. A thoughtful conversation with someone already working in your target field can help you learn more than sending dozens of generic applications.

4. Gain Relevant Experience

Look for opportunities with local teams, tournaments, athletic departments, community organizations and sporting events.

Experience does not have to begin with the Olympics to help you eventually reach the Olympics.

SMWW alumni can also continue refining their job-search strategy through the Sports Career Strategies Course, which focuses on resumes, networking, informational interviews, applications and interview preparation.

The Race for LA 2028 Olympics Jobs Has Already Started

The Olympic flame will not arrive in Los Angeles until 2028, but the work required to stage the Games is already underway.

For aspiring sports professionals, this is the time to prepare—not the time to wait.

Thousands of people could contribute to the Olympic and Paralympic Games through jobs in operations, marketing, media, technology, administration, hospitality and countless supporting industries.

Competition for the most desirable positions will be intense, and enthusiasm alone will not separate one applicant from another.

Relevant knowledge, practical skills, a professional resume and meaningful industry relationships can.

Are you ready to turn your passion for sports into a career?

Explore Sports Management Worldwide’s online sports career courses and begin preparing for the opportunities leading to Los Angeles 2028.

The Games are coming.

Your sports career can start now.