Credit: DisneyFor Disney fans who have been paying attention to the larger entertainment landscape over the past year, the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics have been quietly shaping up to be one of the most interesting intersections of theme parks, Hollywood, and sports in modern history. It is not just that the Games are coming to Southern California, a region that is home to Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood. It is that the people and companies behind the Olympics are deeply, meaningfully connected to Disney in ways that could have real implications for what guests experience both inside and outside the parks in 2028.
The story involves broadcast rights worth billions of dollars, a centuries-old Walt Disney connection to the Olympic ceremonies, a former top Disney executive already on the ground shaping the Games, and rumors that outgoing Disney CEO Bob Iger himself could soon be sitting at the head of the entire operation. There is also the matter of Universal officially becoming the theme park partner of the LA28 Games, which raises genuinely interesting questions about where Disneyland fits in all of this — and whether the two rivals will ultimately find a way to share the moment.
There is a lot to unpack here, and if you are planning any kind of Southern California Disney vacation around the 2028 Games, this is everything you need to know.
Universal Is the Official Theme Park Partner of LA28
Comcast has officially announced that Universal Destinations & Experiences is the official theme park partner of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The announcement is not surprising when you understand the corporate structure involved. Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, which means it owns both NBC — the primary U.S. broadcaster of the Olympics — and Universal Studios. The relationship between Comcast and the International Olympic Committee runs deep and is getting deeper.
Last year, the IOC and Comcast agreed to a landmark new partnership that extended their relationship well beyond traditional media rights. Comcast paid $3 billion to extend U.S. media rights through the 2033–2036 Olympic cycle, covering the Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2034 and the 2036 Summer Games. That comes on top of the $7.65 billion deal NBCUniversal signed back in 2014 for the 2021 through 2032 Games. The new agreement is not just about broadcast rights — it elevates Comcast to a strategic partner of the Olympic Movement, opening the door for deeper integration across platforms and venues.
One of the most tangible results of that integration is that squash will be played at Courthouse Square on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot. Courthouse Square is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable filming locations, having appeared in Back to the Future, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Bruce Almighty, among others. Squash tournaments at the elite level are typically played on courts with four glass walls, meaning the surrounding environment becomes part of the broadcast visually. The backlot setting is going to produce some genuinely unique television, and guests on the Universal Studios Hollywood Backlot Tour during the Games may find themselves watching Olympic competition unfold in real time.
Bob Iger Rumored to Chair the LA28 Organizing Committee
Here is where the Disney angle gets considerably more interesting. According to sources familiar with the internal process who spoke to CNN, outgoing Disney CEO Bob Iger is a front-runner to replace Casey Wasserman as chair of the LA28 Olympic Organizing Committee.
The chair position is not currently open, but pressure has been building publicly and privately for Wasserman to step down following a scandal involving embarrassing private communications. Dozens of elected officials in California, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have called for his resignation. Sources told CNN that LA28 leadership is concerned Wasserman will be unable to conduct interviews, fundraising, or other public-facing duties without creating distraction from the Games themselves.
Iger, who officially departs Disney on March 18, 2026, makes logical sense as a replacement. He previously served on the bid committee for Los Angeles’s 2024 Olympic campaign, which ultimately went to Paris with 2028 awarded to LA. Before his time at Disney, Iger worked with legendary TV producer Roone Arledge on Olympic broadcasts from 1976 to 1988. His experience managing large-scale entertainment events and his name recognition in both Hollywood and the broader business world make him a credible, high-profile candidate for the role. Also, now that Josh D’Amaro is taking over as CEO of The Walt Disney Company shortly, this is a perfect time for Iger to move into a new position, even if its with “enemy” terrirory (referencing the ongoing theme park battle between Disney and Universal).
For Disney fans, Iger chairing LA28 would likely increase the probability of Disneyland being integrated into Olympic programming in a meaningful way — something that is not guaranteed under the current setup given the NBC/Universal partnership.
Disney Already Has a Seat at the Table
Even without Iger formally involved, Disney is not entirely absent from the LA28 picture. Last year, LA28 named Peter Rice as Head of Ceremonies and Content for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Rice previously served as Chairman of Television and General Entertainment for The Walt Disney Company, reporting directly to Iger. In his LA28 role, Rice will serve as the lead executive producer for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, shaping the moments that the entire world will watch.
That Disney connection to Olympic ceremonies actually goes back further than most people realize. At the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Games in Northern California, the chairman of the Pageantry Committee was Walt Disney himself. Disney produced both the opening and closing ceremonies at Blyth Memorial Arena, and by most historical accounts, he overdelivered.
What This Could Mean for a Disney Vacation
How Disneyland factors into the LA28 Games is still an open question, but there are reasons for optimism. Last year, Disney created the role of Major Events Integration President for Ken Potrock, with an explicit mandate to develop cross-company plans for large-scale events including the LA28 Olympics. That role exists for a reason.
The park did significant programming around the 1984 Summer Olympics, and Southern California in the summer of 2028 is going to be an extraordinary place to be. If you are thinking about building a vacation around the Games, Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood together represent a compelling anchor for a Southern California trip.
One practical note worth mentioning: the first LA28 ticket draw is open until March 18, 2026. If you live in a qualifying LA-area zip code, there is an exclusive local presale available. If a 2028 Disney and Olympics vacation is on your radar, now is the time to start paying attention — the planning window is shorter than it feels.