During the closing ceremony of the Olympics, a historic moment took place as the Olympic flag was passed from the first female mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, to Karen Bass, the first female mayor of Los Angeles, where the 2028 Olympics will be hosted. The symbolic exchange of the flag was met with loud cheers and applause.
The flag transition began with Mayor Hidalgo passing it to Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee, who then handed it over to Mayor Bass. The significance of this moment was further highlighted when Mayor Bass, in turn, passed the flag to US gymnast Simone Biles, who held it as the US national anthem played in the background.
Expressing her emotions, Mayor Bass stated, “I’m feeling extremely honored and privileged and responsible. Mayor Hidalgo is a wonderful example, and it’s going to be such an honor to me to receive the flag. And I hope that it sends a message to girls around the world that you can do anything. You can run. You can participate in the Olympics and you can run for office.”
Mayor Bass, who was elected in 2022, had previously announced her intentions to seek reelection in 2026, further solidifying her commitment to public service and inspiring women globally with her achievements.
