When Gary Hall Jr. had to evacuate his home in Pacific Palisades, nestled between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, January 7, he did so in a hurry. The former swimmer, 50, only had time to take his insulin, two paintings and his dog, Puddles. The 10 Olympic medals he won between 1996 and 2004, five of them gold, were swallowed by the flames, along with the rest of his possessions.
For days, the city and the surrounding area have resembled an “apocalypse movie,” as the former champion put it. According to the latest official figures, at least 16 people have died, tens of thousands have been evacuated, over 12,000 buildings have been destroyed and 15,000 hectares have gone up in smoke in the brutal fires that are ravaging the region. Under the threat of the fires, or because of the poor air quality, a number of sporting events have been moved, postponed or even canceled.
The situation serves as a reminder that Southern California is a particularly vulnerable area in the face of climate change. It has also rekindled fears about the ability of the megalopolis to smoothly prepare for and host the major international events on the calendar, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. With just over three years to go until the lighting of the flame, can the organizers guarantee the safety of the venues in a region increasingly exposed to wildfires? How will this disaster affect the planning and perception of the event?
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