Two-Years-To-Go! LA28 News Roundup: Africa, Artistic Swimming, Belgium, Cabo Verde, Germany, Romania, Switzerland
- House Party
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
The countdown is on: two years to go until Los Angeles 2028. To celebrate, here's a roundup of the latest news about Hospitality Houses at the next edition of the Summer Olympic Games.
Africa: Afro Village House
In the May News Roundup, we wrote about the proposed Afro Village House in Culver City. It's official — this African Hospitality House will be opening its doors at Media Park.
Billing itself as "the official gathering place for Africa, the African Diaspora, Global Sport, Innovation, Culture and Investment during the 2028 Games," with up to 30 African nations represented in the multi-disciplinary space. No official National Olympic Committees have been announced.
Organizers are currently looking for sponsors for all aspects of the experience from the Main Event Stage to Sportswear and Food & Bev. Here at House Party, we're very excited for this Hospitality House experience — it looks ambitious and immersive!
Artistic Swimming: Artistic Swimming House
In early June, USA Artistic Swimming announced they're opening Artistic Swimming House in Long Beach at LA28.
Unlike a national Hospitality House which showcases a single nation’s culture, Artistic Swimming House is centred around a single sport. The experience is intended to serve as a gathering place for athletes, alumni, sponsors, and fans, creating a community hub throughout the artistic swimming competition period.
Tickets are priced at $300 per person, per day, and are already on sale to the public. In a new announcement by the USA Artistic Swimming Foundation (USAAS), fans have the opportunity to win a USA Swimming House ticket by making a donation to USAAS.
One entry to the draw is $100, two entries is $150, three entries is $200 and four entries is $250. Good luck to those who enter!
You can read about the full USA Swimming House experience in this House Party Visitor Guide.
Belgium: Belgium House
In mid-May, the Belgian-Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce hosted representatives from Team Belgium in Los Angeles for a "discovery tour" of key LA venues in the hopes of determining a location for Belgium House:
"The delegation explored key neighbourhoods, hospitality opportunities, and business potential that will help shape an exceptional experience for Belgian athletes, supporters, and business partners during the Olympic and Paralympic Games."
In one post-tour statement, the Los Angeles Athletic Club was specifically named as "a standout moment ... a 1912 landmark, layered with sports history and — as it turns out — deep Belgian roots."
Selecting the LA Athletic Club as the Belgian "home-away-from-home" would align with a prior announcement by LA Mayor Karen Bass, who declared that Belgium House would be located in Downtown LA. We'll be keeping our eyes out for more news...
CAbo Verde: Cabo Verde House
Cabo Verde, an Atlantic island nation off the coast of West Africa, will be opening Cabo Verde House in Hawthorne, at the Hawthorne Memorial Center. Cabo Verde is rich in Creole culture, known for its vibrant music, warm hospitality, and as an emerging destination for tourism and international events.
This Cabo Verdean Hospitality House will feature cultural exhibitions, athlete celebrations, and opportunities to connect with the Cabo Verdean diaspora during LA28. Cabo Verde has competed at every Summer Olympic Games since making its debut in 1996, with athletes representing the nation in sports including athletics, boxing, judo, gymnastics, and taekwondo.
GERMANY: Deutsches HAus
The Germans have found their home for Los Angeles 2028: Deutsches Haus will be located in the Pacific Palisades, at the exclusive Bel-Air Bay Club.
Originally opened in 1927, the Bel-Air Bay Club is a historic private beach and social club overlooking the Pacific Ocean, occupying one of the most scenic stretches of the Southern California coastline. The property is divided into two distinct facilities: the Upper Club, a renowned oceanfront venue for weddings, galas, and private events, and the Lower Club, a members-only beach club offering direct beach access, paddle tennis, volleyball, dining, and family recreation.
It hasn't yet been announced how the venue will be used. However, past editions of Deutsches Haus at Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026 have featured both a public fan zone and exclusive hospitality experience — and this venue lends itself nicely to this orientation.
Romania: Casa României
In September 2025, officials from the Romanian Olympic Committee met with the Consul General of Romania in Los Angeles and confirmed their commitment to opening Casa României at LA28.
Then in late June, the Beverly Hills City Council held a special Standing Committee meeting to discuss topics and actions related to LA28. In the minutes, it was revealed that several National Olympic Committees and official delegations have been interested in the Beverly Hills locale, including Romania:
"Staff have received requests from countries and entities interested in the usage of private homes for long-term rentals to serve as Olympic Hospitality Houses, from Romania, or for the use of existing country homes for events, such as the French Consulate house."
Of note, it also appears that a French Consulate House is in the works. France has frequently maintained separate diplomatic hospitality spaces during past international events, and this appears to be in line with that practice.
Switzerland: House of Switzerland
After the official House of Switzerland announcement in late May, Santa Monica City Council is intending to fund significant upgrades to the Camera Obscura building — the home of the Suisse for LA28. The vote to confirm the design agency will take place on July 14.
From the Staff Report: "Staff seeks approval to enter into an agreement with Omgivning, Inc. for design services in an amount not to exceed $613,838 for the Reimagining Camera Obscura Project to design improvements aligned with the terms of the agreement with the FDFA. ...
The Reimagining Camera Obscura Project (Project) would renovate the existing 5,000-square-foot community recreation space and add new outdoor amenities that strengthen the indoor/outdoor connection between the building and Palisades Park. ...
Occupancy and renovation of the building would revitalize the space, introducing a modernized design that respects its historical character. The Project aims to unlock the building’s currently unrealized potential by leveraging its prime oceanfront location and distinctive architecture to establish it as a cultural destination.
After design and a formal bidding process for construction services is complete, staff would return to [City] Council in early 2027 with a recommendation to award a construction contract for the Project, with construction completion anticipated in June 2027."
Here at the House Party Blog, the House of Switzerland is always one of our must-visit Hospitality Houses, and we're thrilled to know it's going to leave a lasting legacy in Santa Monica!
What Hospitality House news are you most excited about?
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Have you read something interesting or do you have intel about a Hospitality House at LA28? We're always keen to hear... share with us!