LA28 Olympic Torch Relay To Travel Through All 50 States, Starting In Atlanta

ATLANTA, Georgia (TXAN 24) — The Olympic flame is coming back to the United States, and this time its journey will extend across all 50 states.

LA28 announced Wednesday that the 2028 Olympic Torch Relay will begin in Atlanta, honoring the city’s legacy as host of the 1996 Olympic Games before carrying the flame across the country toward Los Angeles.

The flame will first be lit in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, before beginning its U.S. journey in spring 2028. LA28 says the full route will be announced in 2027.

The nationwide relay is expected to include stops at major cultural and sporting events, iconic landmarks and community celebrations as the Olympic movement reaches cities and communities across the country.

“Every Olympic Games begins with a single flame,” LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman said, describing the journey as a shared experience involving communities throughout the United States.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the return of the flame 32 years after the 1996 Games represents a new chapter for the city and the country’s Olympic history.

The relay will be supported by presenting partners Coca-Cola, JPMorganChase, Allstate and Xfinity.

The Paralympic Torch Relay will follow the Olympic Games in August 2028. Its flame will originate in Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom, and its U.S. starting location will be announced later.

For Texas, the major question now is where the Olympic flame will travel when the route is unveiled in 2027.

TXAN 24 News will continue following the LA28 torch relay plans and the eventual Texas route.