City of Long Beach, Ocean Conservancy and Olympic and Paralympic Athletes Conduct Beach Cleanup at Alamitos Beach, Site of 2028 Games
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~ Long Beach, CA - On November 18, 2025, the City of Long Beach, in collaboration with the Ocean Conservancy and representatives from the USA Artistic Swimming National Team and the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association, joined forces with 74 local volunteers to conduct a beach cleanup at Alamitos Beach. The event was held as part of the city's preparations for the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The cleanup was a success, with a total of 769 pounds of trash and debris being removed from Alamitos Beach. Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his gratitude towards the volunteers and community partners for their commitment to protecting Long Beach's iconic shoreline. "As a Venue City for the 2028 Games, it is our responsibility to care for our beaches and waterways. We are proud to work together with the Ocean Conservancy, USA Artistic Swimming National Team, and U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association to build a legacy of environmental stewardship and civic pride that will extend beyond 2028," said Mayor Richardson.

Long Beach will be hosting a total of 11 sporting events for the Olympic Games and seven for the Paralympic Games in 2028, making it the city with the largest number of events outside of Los Angeles. Nine of these events will take place along Long Beach's beaches and waterways.

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The beach cleanup was organized as part of Ocean Conservancy's Protect Where We Play initiative, which aims to engage fans, athletes, and artists in taking action for our ocean. The event was coordinated through Long Beach's Adopt a Beach program and took place at Alamitos Beach, which will be hosting Olympic Beach Volleyball and Paralympic Blind Football during the Games. The adjacent shoreline will also be used for Olympic Open Water Swimming, Olympic Rowing Coastal Beach Sprints, and Olympic Sailing (Windsurfing and Kite).

Councilwoman Cindy Allen, representing the Second District, expressed her appreciation for the partnership with Ocean Conservancy and Team USA. "The energy and teamwork displayed today reflect what makes Long Beach so special. We are grateful to have partners who share our commitment to protecting our beaches and waterways," said Councilwoman Allen.

Councilmember Kristina Duggan, representing the Third District, also emphasized the importance of engaging residents early on through volunteer opportunities like this. "Bringing Olympic and Paralympic events to Belmont Shore and Marine Stadium is an incredible honor, and we want to ensure that the 2028 Games leave a lasting, positive legacy for our community," said Councilmember Duggan.

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Earlier this year, Ocean Conservancy launched Protect Where We Play with the support of "Team Ocean Captains," including USA Artistic Swimming, two-time Gold-medal Paralympian Ezra Frech - who attended the Alamitos Beach cleanup - and other professional athletes and partners. The initiative aims to not only clean up our oceans but also raise awareness about plastic pollution prevention.

Allison Schutes, Senior Director of Conservation Cleanups at Ocean Conservancy, expressed her gratitude towards the City of Long Beach and all those who participated in the beach cleanup. "Every piece of trash picked up not only helps make the ocean safer for marine life but also informs important research and advocacy that will help prevent plastic pollution from reaching the ocean in the first place," said Schutes.

Adam Andrasko, CEO of USA Artistic Swimming, also highlighted their partnership with Ocean Conservancy's Protect Where We Play initiative. "This cleanup is a great way to pay it forward ahead of the 2028 Games and be part of the community long before our athletes enter the arena. Our partnership embodies what our members value and what our national team is at its core. We look forward to continuing this work," said Andrasko.

For more information about Long Beach's commitments to the 2028 Games, visit longbeach.gov/2028games.

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