OPC 28 -- FAQs/Program components

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• Celebrations to keep the Spirit of the Games alive in Host Cities after the competitions move on.

• Global, biennial, non-political, PEACE-themed events,  programs, and activities organized by local athletes and other stakeholders.  

• For you, everyone, for all humanity - The Olympic & Paralympic Games and ideals belong to the entire world!

• Supporters from anywhere in the world can join any Host City Team -- or more than one team! -- where they lived, competed, worked, volunteered ... or simple loved! 

• See OPC 28 Program Goals & Milestone here

As with all OLY/PLY dreams, we start small and dream big, growing into something amazing that inspires the world!

• We are  building Host City Teams, events, sponsors, and PEACE partners in every site with some simple guidelines and advice: 

1. Join a Host City Team here as an individual or organization!

This is the first and most important step -- it helps us to connect you with other staleholders nearby who care about the same things and want to help

2. Then consider becoming a Host City Team 'Champion'! 

We need individuals and groups to:

• help form and lead Host City Teams to design and run local programs 
• serve on our Global Advisory Board and 4 Regional Organizing Committees (see below) 
• identify local/global PEACE partners and program sponsors

3. Register your Host City Team with OPC 28 

Register your Host City Team so we can begin working with you - it's straightforward:

1. Identify at least 3+ local 'Champions' who have joined on to OPC 28 
2. Outline a plan for STEP 1 (Flame Lighting) and STEP 2 (Promoting OLY PLY VALUES) identified on our HOME Page. (NOTE: STEP 3 is encouraged but optional!)

4. What's next? Join a periodic Host City/Region Zoom call so we can discuss ideas, activites, and progress. 

OPC 28's cornerstone event - relighting the flames - will be globally-coordinated among all participating Host Cities, taking place on the first day of the biennial IOC/UN-sponsored 'Olympic Truce Period' -- one week before the Olympic Opening Ceremonies of each new set of Games. 

• The Olympic Truce is a modern revival of an ancient Greek tradition (ekecheiria) meant to promote a halt of hostilities, protect athletes, and allow safe travel to and from the Olympic Games. It is officially supported by a UN General Assembly resolution and spans from seven days before the Olympics begin to seven days after the Paralympics conclude.

• OPC 28 kicks-off on Friday July 7, 2028 for LA28; OPC 30 starts on Olympic Truce Day for the French Alps 2030 Games; OPC 32  starts on Olympic Truce Day for the Brisbane 2032 Games, and so on. 

NOTE: OPC 28 celebrations and programs can run before, during, and after the official Olympic Truce Period -- depending on the needs, interests, and resources of the Host City Team and local partners.

 The Olympic & Paralympic movements' core Principles, Mission, and Vision/Ideals constitute the foundation of the OLY PLY Values and Spirit of the Games. They also represent a practical framework for ethical, productive, and healthy sport and life and are expressed in our OPC 28 Proclamation/Shield (available here in PDF format).

These include the core Olympic Values of Excellence, Respect, and Friendship and the core Paralympic Values of Courage, Inspiration, Determination, and Equality.

Host City Teams determine the scope of local events and activities based on local desires and available resources. We encourage these events and activities to take place around the time of the flame lighting (see above) but they can also be on-going, during, or even after the Games.

Add-on programs (events, activities, venues) could include: 

• Partnership opportunities (PEACE, media, school/youth, and sponsorship organizations)
• Athlete-led gatherings and discussion groups
• PEACE/Torch runs or walks
• City Hall Proclamation readings
• Museum/School/Youth Club Presentations
• Training Center/Sport Club Open Houses
• Parade of Nations celebrations with Youth, Schools, Clubs
• Release of symbolic doves or lanterns
• Music Concerts
• School/Youth PEACE Poster & Poetry Competitions

Host City Teams can work with the appropriate local agencies to see if the official and historic Olympic/Paralympic flame or cauldron is still functional and available. 

If not, superb 'flame' alternatives exist to convey the Spirit and majesty of the original flames of the Games, including: 

• Hot air balloon (think Paris 2024!)
• Building-side light projections
• Search light clusters streaking into the sky (think oldtime movie premier)
• TV panel clusters incorporating flame images
• DIY flame stands
• Air-blasted paper/cloth streamers that stretch above the ground
• Stained glass backlit images
• Simple balloon clusters
• White doves released during a OPC 28 Proclamation ceremony

Host City Teams are only limited here by their imqginations and resources!

YES! To support and promote collaboration regionally among Host Cities, OPC 28 is building several organization structures where we welcome your participation:

1) OPC 28 Regional Organizing Committees ('ROC'): 

• Americas (14 Host Cities)
• Europe West & North  (17 Host Cities)
• Europe South & East + Africa (20 Host Cities)
• Asia & Oceania (14 Host Cities)

2) OPC 28 Global Advisory Board. 

3) PEACE Partners & Financial Sponsors (global and local). 

OPC 28  works with partners in a single Host City or globally among many Host Cities interested and experienced in:

1. sharing PEACE lessons with youth, schools, sport clubs, etc.
2. providing funding in return for positive brand imaging

Contact OPC 28 (Charlie) for more information.

Please reach out to the OPC 28 Team (Charlie) for more information about:

• joining, building, or registering a Host City Team team
• brainstorming ideas about OPC 28 Flames, publicizing Values, or Add-On Programs
• serving on our OPC 28 Global Advisory Board or ROCs
• being a global or local sponsor or PEACE partner
• attending an OPC 28 Zoom training call
• ... simply asking questions or providing suggestions or anything else