The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games hosted its first in-person Youth Council meeting since its initial launch in June 2021. This latest meeting focused on education and inclusion around Paralympic sports and persons with disabilities followed by a wheelchair basketball clinic at UCLA.

LA28 Youth Council members and Athlete Fellows were joined by Team USA 2020 Wheelchair Basketball Paralympic Gold Medalist Jorge Sanchez, who shared his personal experiences as an elite athlete. Attendees took to the court at UCLA’s John Wooden Center by participating in a wheelchair basketball clinic through the university’s Adaptive Recreation Department.

One Youth Council Member shared, “I really loved going to UCLA and learning how to play Wheelchair Basketball. It was eye-opening, fun and the best sports experience I’ve had. I can’t wait to see the other amazing projects LA28 has in store and to continue contributing to their planning efforts."

The LA28 Youth Council is a volunteer advisory group of young Angelenos ages 18-24. This diverse group represents a variety of LA neighborhoods and communities who come together to share their ideas around topics critical to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

“The wheelchair basketball event showed me the elite level of competition required of Paralympic athletes,” said Olympic silver medalist and LA28 Athlete Fellow Jason Richardson. “I was outscored, outpaced and outmaneuvered, but I had an incredible time learning the fundamentals of the game and deepening my understanding and appreciation for adaptive athletes. I also valued the opportunity to learn from LA28’s Youth Council, whose insights are helping us grow into a better organization.”

UCLA Adaptive Recreation hosts wheelchair basketball clinics every Tuesday from 4:30-7 pm. More information can be found here.

The LA28 Games will mark Los Angeles’ third time to host the Olympic Games – previously hosted in 1984 and 1932 – and first time to host the Paralympic Games. Los Angeles is expected to host more than 15,000 athletes in 2028 as it welcomes Paralympians and Olympians from around the world to compete on the biggest stage in sports.

The LA28 Games are independently operated by a privately funded, non-profit organization with revenue from corporate partners, licensing agreements, hospitality and ticketing programs and a significant contribution from the International Olympic Committee.