The China Mail - Hollywood producer Kennedy to head LA28 Olympic ceremony plans

Kennedy, 73, an eight-time Academy Award nominee whose first film producing credit came on Steven Spielberg's 1982 classic "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial", will serve as head of ceremonies and content.

She will executive produce the opening and closing ceremonies, which will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium.

"Kathleen is a legend. She is one of Hollywood's all-time greats, with a rare gift for storytelling," LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman said in a statement.

"When the stars align to focus the world's attention on Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I can't think of anyone better to conjure the magic of Hollywood than Kathleen."

Kennedy, whose other film credits include "Jurassic Park" and "Schindler's List" and the most recent instalments of the "Star Wars" franchise, said she and her husband, fellow producer Frank Marshall, had been longtime Olympic fans.

"The Olympics have been a touchstone in my life," Kennedy said. "My husband...and I have attended virtually every Games since Los Angeles in 1984, and sport remains one of the great unifying experiences we share," she said.

The Olympic Opening Ceremony is scheduled for July 14, 2028, with the Closing Ceremony on July 30.

The Paralympic Opening Ceremony is scheduled for August 15, with the Closing Ceremony at the Coliseum on August 27.

In a separate announcement on Wednesday, Olympics organisers revealed that the official slogan for the 2028 Games would be "Stars Align" in a nod to Los Angeles's status as the world's entertainment industry capital.

"Los Angeles is the place where dreams take flight, and the Olympics show us what's possible when the world unites," Wasserman said in a statement. "We can't wait for the stars to align in 2028 so we can share this moment with everyone."

A.Sun--ThChM