Olympian Janet Evans Wants LA28 To Be Remembered For More Than Medals

How LA28’s Chief Athlete Officer Is Building A Legacy Through Youth Sports, Athlete Advocacy And Community Impact.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 24: LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans poses for a portrait on May 24, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for LA28)

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More than 13,000 young athletes spread across 180 sites nationwide spent Olympic and Paralympic Day (June 23^rd) doing something that four-time Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans believes can change lives.

They played sports.

LA28 Day Of Sport

Some rotated through basketball stations. Others tried flag football, rugby, track and field or para-swimming. Many met Olympic and Paralympic champions for the first time. At locations stretching from Los Angeles and Long Beach to Oklahoma City, Nashville, Columbus and San José, children participated in LA28’s annual Day of Sport celebration, a nationwide event designed to connect young people with the Olympic and Paralympic movement.

For Evans, Chief Athlete Officer of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the day represents far more than a promotional event. It is a glimpse of what she hopes will become the lasting legacy of LA28.

“Today is Olympic and Paralympic Day all over the world,” Evans said during an interview with Forbes. “Our community impact team decided, why not merge Olympic and Paralympic Day with a day here in Los Angeles to celebrate sport?”

The result has become one of LA28’s fastest-growing community initiatives. Held annually in conjunction with National Olympic and Paralympic Day, the LA28 Day of Sport celebrates the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games while introducing thousands of young people to organized sports. This year’s event featured a Parade of Nations, appearances by Olympic legends, and sports demonstrations across dozens of host communities.

Yet behind the festivities lies a deeper purpose.

A Ten-Year Investment In PlayLA

For nearly a decade, LA28 and the City of Los Angeles have partnered through PlayLA, a youth sports initiative supported by approximately $160 million in investment from LA28 and the International Olympic Committee. The program provides low-cost and free sports opportunities to children throughout Los Angeles while expanding adaptive sports access for youth with disabilities. When the program launched, organizers shared an ambitious dream. Could PlayLA someday produce an Olympian or Paralympian? The answer arrived sooner than expected.

“We actually did,” Evans said with a smile.

Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medalist Arrell Middleton emerged from the PlayLA program, becoming perhaps the most visible example of the initiative’s potential. For Evans, Middleton’s story validates a belief that has guided much of her work at LA28: Olympic legacy should be measured not only by venues and infrastructure, but by opportunities created for future generations.

No New Venues

That achievement carries particular significance because Los Angeles is pursuing one of the most infrastructure-conscious Olympic models in modern history. Unlike many host cities that construct massive permanent facilities, LA28 is relying heavily on existing venues. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Rose Bowl, Crypto.com Arena and numerous other facilities will host competitions before returning to their traditional uses after the Games.

The venues matter. But for Evans, the people matter more.

“When you look at the legacy of what LA is doing, yes, we have venues and yes, we have athletes coming,” Evans said. “But our legacy is what we do for our city and our communities.” For Evans, the event serves as an annual reminder of why the organization exists. “In two short years we’re out of here,” she reflected. “What impact have we left on the community and what inspiration have we provided?”

The Athlete Voice At Every Table

Perhaps Evans’ most significant contribution to the Olympic movement is ensuring athletes have a seat at decision-making tables that historically operated without them. When LA28 created the Chief Athlete Officer role, Evans became the first person to hold such a position within an Olympic organizing committee. The role emerged from a simple but transformative question posed by LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman during the Olympic bid process.

“What would life look like for an athlete if we win these Games?”

That athlete-centered perspective has since become deeply embedded throughout the organization. Today, athletes participate across numerous departments within LA28, providing perspectives that influence decisions ranging from venue planning to communications strategy. The approach reflects a broader shift occurring across the Olympic movement. Former NBA champion Pau Gasol, recently elected chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, has become one of Evans’ closest collaborators. While Gasol oversees athlete issues across the entire Olympic ecosystem, Evans focuses specifically on LA28. She admires his commitment.

“He takes off his Pau (superstar) hat,” Evans said. “He becomes just a guy who cares about athletes.”

Bringing Athletes Together

Earlier this year, Evans and her team organized LA28’s first Athlete Summit. Initially, organizers expected fewer than 100 attendees. Instead, nearly 300 Olympians and Paralympians responded. The event ultimately moved to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where athletes gathered to learn more about LA28 and ask questions about the upcoming Games. The overwhelming turnout revealed something important.

Athletes want to be involved. They want information. They want transparency. And they want opportunities to contribute.

The summit also reinforced Evans’ belief that communication remains one of the most powerful tools available to organizers. Many athletes’ concerns are resolved simply by providing context. Understanding Olympic protocols, ticketing systems, venue plans, and operational realities often transforms frustration into support. For Evans, helping athletes navigate those complexities is central to her mission.

Defining Success In 2028

As the interview concluded, Evans was asked how she would define success when the Paralympic Games end in August 2028.

Her answer was strikingly simple.

“When my team is having that glass of champagne on the day after the Paralympics end, and I’m saying to them: what did the athletes say about our Games?”

“And it’s all positive.”

“That’s success for me.”