Greece’s top athletes, dignitaries and friends will make Long Beach their second home during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics, according to an announcement Monday. 

The venue will be at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, an East Long Beach staple that holds the yearly Long Beach Greek Festival on its grounds.  

Officials with the Hellenic Olympic Committee said they chose Long Beach due to its history as a longstanding and dynamic Greek diaspora.

Jimmy Eleopoulos, the church’s president, said he’s been pushing to host the Greek team since last fall, shortly after visiting the Team USA venue at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

“Yesterday was a huge day,” Eleopoulos said of the Monday news. “In my wildest dreams, I couldn’t imagine us getting this.”

Eleopoulos began negotiations last September, through diplomatic channels in the Greek Consulate General in Los Angeles.

A major selling point, he said, was the church’s location; a short walk from Marine Stadium, where Greek athletes are expected to compete in rowing competitions, and easy access to the roads heading north to Los Angeles. 

Athletes won’t be living at the church — they’ll stay at the Olympic Village at UCLA — but the venue will be used to host gatherings, watch parties and celebrate national pride. It will also serve as the meeting ground for athletes, coaches, families, fans and foreign politicians or royalty. 

“It was a personal passion, since my parents are from Greece,” Eleopoulos said, adding the grounds will be like “a Greek Festival for 15 days straight.”

Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the committee, said the Greek Olympic House will be a “powerful symbol” given the country’s historical connection to the Games. 

“In Los Angeles, through this House, we will share our culture, history, traditions, as well as the values ​​of Olympism — excellence, friendship and respect that remain our strongest contribution to humanity,” Kouvelos said. 

Long Beach officials said Tuesday that more details about the Greek Olympic House will be shared at a later date, pending the approval of some event permits. 

Similar discussions are ongoing with at least nine countries, including France, Denmark, Canada and Spain, according to city spokesperson Jennifer De Prez. 

“While the City has engaged in discussions with these countries, it has not yet been confirmed whether their National Olympic Committees will establish operations in Long Beach,” De Prez said. 

Plans continue to unfold as the city prepares to host 11 Olympic and 7 Paralympic disciplines, making Long Beach the second busiest in the region. 

The Olympics Opening Ceremony takes place on July 14, 2028, though disciplines start as early as July 12, with preliminary matches in soccer, basketball, field hockey, rugby and cricket, as well as in two of Long Beach’s events — handball and water polo.

For a full sport-by-sport schedule with dates and time windows, visit here. Further schedule details by event are expected to be announced later in 2025.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with more information from Jimmy Eleopoulos.