As millions watched around the world on Sunday, Aug. 11, Paris brought its two-week mega-event to a close and handed the five-ringed mantle of international competition to Los Angeles, which will host the Olympics and Paralympics Games in 2028.
During a “live” Southern California concert segment during the telecast of Sunday’s closing ceremonies, a beachside scene may have looked familiar to many Long Beach natives. Planned for weeks in advance, the music-festival scenes were discreetly filmed Saturday along Granada and Rosie’s Dog beaches, right under the noses of most folks in the community.
This was Long Beach’s first of many anticipated appearances on the world stage for the 2028 Summer Games. The seaside city will serve as the second-largest venue city outside of Los Angeles for the event. So far, sports confirmed to take place in the city include handball, canoe sprint, rowing, sailing, marathon swimming, triathlon and water polo.
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On Sunday, the blockbuster lineup of California-based music artists led the LA28 hand-over celebration, in which LA28 introduced itself to the world, bringing together LA’s culture of entertainment, diversity and creativity, with sport at the core, according to a media release.
On Sunday’s broadcast, live music acts in Paris were first showcased, including performances by Angele and Phoenix, joined by Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend.
After speeches and ceremonies and a mammoth live/pre-taped Tom Cruise stunt that ended at the Hollywood sign, the spotlight shifted to Southern California and a mix of pre-taped and live performances, featured Southland-based musicians, including Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dr. Dre — all from L.A. — as well as Long Beach’s very own Snoop Dogg, who has been a ubiquitous presence daily during NBC’s coverages of the games.
Snoop, 52, a Poly High grad, was arguably the biggest star of the Paris Games not to win a gold medal, ascending to new heights with several memorable moments. He carried the Olympic torch, captivated audiences as NBC’s prime-time correspondent, swam with Michael Phelps, attended a U.S. women’s soccer game with Megan Rapinoe, danced with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, and cheered on Caeleb Dressel alongside the swimmer’s wife and son.
“When the lights are on, that’s when I shine the best,” he told The Associated Press last week. “This opportunity was nothing but a chance for me to show the world what it’s supposed to look like when you put the right person in the right environment.”
Snoop’s presence in Paris was part of NBC’s bet to boost ratings by infusing coverage with pop culture. So far, the U.S. broadcaster’s strategy has worked, combined with the star power from U.S. Olympians such as Biles, Katie Ledecky and Sha’Carri Richardson. Early on, the company averaged 34 million people a day watching on NBC, cable networks and Peacock, up from 19 million over the same period in Tokyo. And the closing numbers were expected to be much higher.
Snoop returned to Long Beach on Saturday, along with some Grammy-winning associates, but most neighbors had no idea they had rolled in.
Near the filming site on the beach, flurries of curious passersby on bicycles, jogging or or walking stopped and tried to take a peek at a production set. Many locals said they believed to be where filming for the closing ceremony performances was taking place as some could see a sculpture of the LA28 logo towering above the fence. Others said they could hear the echoes of the headliners’ music.
Official notices were posted about planned filming in the area days before, but they included no mention of the Olympics or the celebrity performers.
Some lucky fans were able to spot the artists being driven to the stage in golf carts, or when they returned to a staging or a dressing room area set up in the parking lot at the base of the Granada boat ramp.
People hung around to hear what music they could and peered through holes in the screen and tried to climb the fence for a peak or stand on rocks to see over the fence. Security was tight and kept looky-loos at bay. Attendees streaming out of the gates were mum about what was going on.
Beach-goers, meanwhile, stood and sat atop exercise bars along the pedestrian path and pointed their cell phones toward the stage during a Snoop Dogg performance. Some swayed to the music.
Snoop has come a long way since he broke through 30 years ago as part of the West Coast gangsta rap scene with Dr. Dre in a career marred with several brushes with the law. He branched out as an actor in such movies as “Training Day” and “Starsky & Hutch,” and as a reality star with Martha Stewart’s “Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.”
At around 5 p.m. on Saturday, the white canopies set up along Ocean Boulevard were being broken down as law enforcement and private security ushered out thousands of people, part of the performance’s audiences. By Sunday morning, most of the production setup was gone but there was still deconstruction happening on the beach.
During Sunday’s broadcast, the Red Hot Chili Peppers opened the faux festival with “Can’t Stop,” with Long Beach’s familiar island oil rigs visible in the background.
Eilish followed with a performance of “Birds of a Feather,” atop a stage that resembled an iconic local lifeguard tower.
And Snoop was next, with the familiar sound of “Drop It Like It’s Hot” before charging through a throng to share the stage with Dr. Dre on “The Next Episode.”
The Belmont Shore Business Association gave followers a sneak peek on Sunday morning. On their Instagram page, the local nonprofit shared a video of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg performing on Rosie’s Dog Beach with an LA28 sculpture in the background.
“Yesterday they filmed a concert for the closing ceremonies of the Olympics featuring performances by @snoopdogg, @drdre, @billieeilish and @chilipeppers,” the nonprofit wrote. “We love that Snoop came home to Long Beach and appropriately at our Dog Beach to perform. Can’t wait for summer 2028.”
“This is the biggest moment in LA28 history to date, as the Olympic flag passes from Paris to LA,” LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman said in a statement released Sunday. “We are thrilled to feature the very best of L.A. with local artists and are grateful to Billie, H.E.R., the Chili Peppers and Snoop for their collaboration on what will be an incredible show to a global audience that will give fans a taste of what’s to come in 2028.”
Near the end of the ceremony, Mayor Karen Bass received the official Olympic flag as L.A. snagged the proverbial baton from Paris and began the four-year countdown to the 2028 Summer Games. Joined on stage by U.S. Olympic icon Biles, Bass waved the flag with vigor after giving way to a performance of the Star Spangled Banner by H.E.R.
“It was an immense honor to participate in this moment of history and it was such a privilege to stand with Simone Biles – someone who has made our entire nation proud,” Bass said in a statement on Sunday. “It’s my hope that when girls around the world watched the first woman Mayor of Paris officially hand off the flag to the first woman Mayor of Los Angeles, they were inspired. Together, we sent the message to girls all around the world that they can do anything — they can run for gold and they can run for office.”
“I want to recognize the City of Paris and Mayor (Anne) Hidalgo for being such extraordinary hosts,” Bass added. “Tonight, we exchanged more than just the flag, we sent a message all across the world. Now, it’s time for Los Angeles to show the world just how special our city is, and to host the most impactful Olympic and Paralympic Games yet that focus on helping local small businesses, creating local jobs and creating lasting environmental and transportation improvements throughout Los Angeles that generate tangible benefits to Angelenos for generations to come.”
The U.S. delegation to Paris also included first lady Jill Biden, Sen. Alex Padilla and Sen. Laphonza Butler, former Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, now a congressman representing the region, and current Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson.
Upon her arrival at LAX at about 2 p.m. Monday, Bass is expected to host a news conference to showcase the flag and highlights of her trip. The flag and other Olympic icons will go on display in L.A. City Hall, where crews have been preparing for their arrival.
Bass’ counterpart in Long Beach is jazzed about Long Beach’s role in the big 2028 show.
“The confirmation of these first seven sporting events to be held in Long Beach further solidifies our status as a premier sports destination and our commitment as a major Venue City for the LA28 Games,” Richardson said last month. “Long Beach will be ready to welcome athletes, spectators and visitors from around the world and showcase our city’s vibrant sports culture and coastal features.”
City News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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