The narrative will be familiar to anyone who has been lucky enough to attend more than one Olympic Games.

Ahead of the opening ceremony, doubt reigns – host cities are criticised for spending too much on the event, numbers of unsold tickets are bandied around by sceptical journalists and critics point to falling viewer numbers.

By the closing ceremony, all these concerns are long forgotten, and the power of the global sporting spectacle is reaffirmed.

In Paris, it’s true, the Seine flotilla was a damp squib, there is no getting away from that.

But by the time a masked woman riding a horse appeared, it was clear we were in for something special – only for Celine Dion to shift the mood to one of wild celebration.

As the weather shifted into glorious sunshine during the first week of the games, British viewers were treated to Alex Yee powering over the finish line in the triathlon, as the women’s quadruple sculls took gold in a photo finish.

Both brough a tear to the eye – these are the moments the Olympics relies on to draw global attention, and each nation will have had its heroes.

Even for those who didn’t win a medal, there were the antics of Snoop Dog to enjoy.

Now it is all over – Paris will be returned to Parisians and president Macron will be forced to address the political impasse the country finds itself in.

Reality will return, the security fences will be taken down, temporary seating returned to storage and athletes depart.

Paris will, most likely, take its place alongside London at the top of the medal table when it comes to the most successful recent games, fondly remembered for its iconic venues, sporting prowess and immaculate hosting.

Attention now turns to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the process begins again.

Questions will be asked: does the Olympics have a role in the modern sporting landscape? What are the costs, both financial and environmental, of this quadrennial jamboree? Will the showbiz capital of the United States be able to unite the global community in the way we have seen in Paris?

We will only really know the answers once the opening ceremony rolls around again on July 14th, 2028, just under four years from now.

This will be the third time Los Angeles has hosted the games, with the 1984 event considered a success despite a boycott by the Soviet Union depleting fields in a number of events.

In all, 140 National Olympic Committees took part that time around, which was a record at the time.

Good feelings prevailed to such an extent that at the opening ceremony the athletes broke ranks to join in spontaneous dancing, something usually reserved for the closing ceremony.

This time organisers have been eager to emphasise their sustainability credentials and there will be no new, permanent constructions for the event.

Instead, dozens of existing sites have been earmarked for use, including the home stadium of football team LA Galaxy and the LA Memorial Coliseum.

Meanwhile, student housing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) will be turned into the athletes’ village for the summer.

Recent budget forecasts suggest the event will not come cheap, with expenditure of nearly $7bn (£5.5bn) expected on the games themselves, in addition to any transport upgrades.

Much remains to be seen – but the process has begun, with Delta Air Lines flying the Olympic Flag to Los Angeles on its custom LA28 liveried aircraft following the closing ceremony over the weekend.

Excitement is already beginning to build as the games return to the United States for the first time since the 2022 Salt Lake Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As the official airline of Team USA and an inaugural founding partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Delta is set to play a key role.

“Delta and LA28’s partnership is built around our shared values of connecting the world – and nothing brings the world together like the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Alicia Tillman, Delta chief marketing officer.

“Alongside LA28, we are committed to investing in LA28 and the future of Los Angeles as we set out to work together to bring the games to life in the biggest and best way possible.”

Designed in-house by its creative agency, Window Seat, Delta’s LA28 livery, a custom A350 aircraft, features a blend of Delta blue, Delta red and Olympic gold to create a sunset-like colour gradient that fades into a starry impression.

The Los Angeles-inspired aircraft also displays three palm trees, emblematic of the years that LA hosted the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games: 1932, 1984 and now 2028.

The honour of hosting three Olympic Games is held by only two other cities in the world – Paris and London.

The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games bring Delta’s multi-year partnership to its peak, celebrating the brand’s role as an inaugural founding partner.

Over the course of the Team USA partnership, Delta also designed a custom livery for Beijing 2022, with plans for another livery for Milano Cortina 2026.

Let the games begin!

More Information

Learn more about Delta’s partnership with Team USA here.

Chris O’Toole