Los Angeles must be better prepared for climate crises by 2028 Olympics, says IOC member Johan Eliasch

Los Angeles has been warned by an Olympics presidential candidate that as 2028 host city it must be better prepared to handle climate emergencies after the recent deadly wildfires.

Johan Eliasch, a billionaire member of the International Olympic Committee, spoke to Sky News about issues with LA’s readiness amid scrutiny over how $17.8m (£14.5m) in budget cuts slowed the response to blazes earlier this month.

While no major sports venues were damaged, widespread rebuilding of housing and infrastructure will be required as the city prepares, not only for the Olympics and Paralympics, but 2026 World Cup matches and the 2027 Super Bowl.

“It shows that we’re all into this together and climate readiness for climate security issues is paramount,” said Mr Eliasch, head of the International Ski Federation.

“The lesson from this is that we need to make sure that [Olympics] organisers have the capacity and capabilities to deal with extreme weather events, because it’s not going to be less of it, it’s going to be more.”

The fires were fuelled by powerful winds and drought-like conditions but Mr Eliasch’s comments chime with deepening political debate in California over any mistakes by authorities – particularly over funding.

“Here is where climate readiness is paramount … and we need to make sure, for future Olympic hosts, they have the capabilities to deal with it. Now, fortunately, we have three and a half years to go,” Mr Eliasch said.

“It is for communities to push governments for this, because as we have seen with more flooding, with extreme snowfall, these are things that we need to be prepared for,” the IOC member added.

By March, although considered an outsider in the IOC vote, Mr Eliasch hopes to beat six rivals to be voted president to run the Olympics.

The British-Swedish tycoon made his fortune through the Head sportswear firm and has advised both the Conservative and Labour parties.

Transgender debate

One of the key issues facing the successor to Thomas Bach at the IOC is whether transgender women have a place in women’s sport.

“The integrity of women’s sport is at stake,” Mr Eliasch said, before providing a more nuanced argument.

There is a call for “clear rules”, whereas the IOC currently leaves it for individual sports to decide.

World Athletics, led by rival IOC candidate Lord Coe, has a complete ban on transgender women from women’s events, unlike in skiing.

“Everybody has the right to compete,” Mr Eliasch said.

“If you’re born with XX chromosomes, you’re a woman. The difficulty arises when you analyse variations in DNA and how that impacts physical ability.

“And we need to have a fair, level playing field. And if you start messing around with that, it doesn’t work. It has to be based on science and biological facts. It’s the only way to deal with it.”

Olympics in Africa?

There is concern about climate change restricting the number of places capable of hosting the Winter Olympics.

And Mr Eliasch suggests a rotation scheme of 10 potential venues that share the Games over the next 40 years.

“That way, investments are kept up, places are maintained, and we don’t waste a lot of money,” he said.

On the Summer Olympics, he is keen for Africa and the Middle East to have a chance at hosting for the first time – with the 2036 city the next to be chosen.

“We need to go to new places and I’m not against going to Africa,” he said.

“It will take preparation. We need to give this the right amount of lead time to prepare. The same with the Middle East. Why not India? Yeah, why not.”

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It could require shifting from the usual July-August dates, just as FIFA moved the World Cup to later in the year in 2022 to accommodate the Qatar heat.

“We learned lessons, particularly that coordination across all sports is necessary not to disrupt and cause difficulties for others,” Mr Eliasch said.