The Californer - Olympic Federation of Ireland to Establish Team Ireland House in Long Beach for 2028 Olympic Games

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Above: Olympic Federation of Ireland representatives Catherine Tiernan, Commercial Director (left), and Peter Sherrard, Chief Executive Officer (right), announce at Mayor Rex Richardson's Jan. 13, 2026, State of the City Address that the Olympic Federation of Ireland has selected Long Beach to establish its Team Ireland House for the 2028 Olympic Games.

Long Beach, CA – Announced at Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson's State of the City Address on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, the Olympic Federation of Ireland has selected Long Beach to establish Ireland's Team Hospitality House for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. With a large Irish-American community, a bustling Downtown tourism and entertainment district and a central location to the 2028 Games, Long Beach will serve as a prime location for the Team Ireland House, which plans to bring a dynamic, entertaining and culturally significant Games fan experience to the city.

"We are proud to welcome the Team Ireland House for the 2028 Games and look forward to seeing this cultural space come alive with community connection, celebration and shared experiences for people of all ages," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "As Long Beach continues to welcome Team Hospitality Houses, we are demonstrating firsthand the global confidence placed in our beautiful city."

Team Ireland House will be located at Ovation Square event space on Pine Avenue in Downtown Long Beach spanning the duration of the 2028 Olympic Games. The Irish House plans to deliver a wide variety of cultural programming, events and showcases, live entertainment, athlete and family gatherings, sponsor activations, retail and exhibition experiences and more. The Olympic Federation of Ireland will also host youth engagement opportunities through its Dare to Believe program, which aims to inspire young people through an interactive curriculum that explores and brings Olympics values to life. More information about the Team Ireland House will be shared as the 2028 Games approach. Once plans for activities and events become more solidified, they will be reviewed and finalized pending the approval of applicable permits.

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"The Ireland Team House will transform the 2028 Games from something people simply watch into something they truly experience," said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. "This will be a dynamic gathering place where residents, families, visitors and athletes come together to celebrate culture, build community and feel connected to something global, right in the heart of Downtown Long Beach. It represents the kind of bold, inclusive vision that elevates our entire city."

"We are thrilled to bring Team Ireland House to Long Beach for LA 2028. Ovation Square offers a world-class venue in a city that is deeply engaged with the Games and eager to welcome the Irish community," said Peter Sherrard, Chief Executive Officer of Olympic Federation of Ireland. "With so many Olympic and Paralympic events taking place nearby, it will be a natural gathering point for athletes, families and supporters. We look forward to creating a vibrant home for Ireland on the West Coast."

With Ireland's announcement, Long Beach has made history as the first city in the region to secure three confirmed National Hospitality Houses for the 2028 Games. This comes shortly after becoming the first city to secure two, with Long Beach recently selected by the Hellenic Olympic Committee as the location for Greece's first-ever Team House at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, as well as by the National Olympic Committee of Denmark as the location for the official House of Denmark at the Westin Long Beach.

"Long Beach continues to prepare for the 2028 Games with intentionality, vision and a clear focus on delivering experiences that are both world-class and deeply rooted in our community," said City Manager Tom Modica. "Team Houses are a key part of that approach—and with the Irish Team House, they are bringing a thoughtfully planned space that supports international partners while activating our city in ways that create connection, visibility and lasting value for residents."

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This announcement also marks the first confirmed activation of local business space as part of the City's online interest form for property owners interested in renting out their spaces to Games stakeholders. Long Beach continues to be a sought-after destination by National Olympic Committees (NOC), National Paralympic Committees (NPC) and other stakeholders to activate space for the 2028 Games. Team Houses are temporary hospitality venues set up by a country's NOC or NPC to serve as special event and gathering spaces, most often used to celebrate national culture and host a variety of unique public and private special event opportunities.

Local businesses and property owners interested in renting out their space are encouraged to submit the online interest form to get connected with Games stakeholders interested in activating space in Long Beach.

Hosted by the City of Los Angeles, the 2028 Olympic Games will take place July 14 through July 30, 2028, and the 2028 Paralympic Games will take place Aug. 15 through Aug. 27, 2028. Long Beach will serve as a 2028 Venue City set to stage the largest number of sporting events outside of the Host City of Los Angeles, staging 11 sporting events for the Olympic Games and seven for the Paralympic Games.

More information about Long Beach's commitment to the LA28 Games is available at longbeach.gov/2028Games.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

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