Wednesday, September 30, 2026 300 stories · 2679 outlet reports compared

2028 Olympic torch relay to start in Atlanta and cross all 50 states before LA

Organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics announced the torch relay will begin in Atlanta and travel through all 50 U.S. states before arriving in Los Angeles.

By The Lumen desk · Sept 30, 2026 · 1 min read
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What we know
1 The 2028 Summer Olympics torch relay will start in Atlanta.
2 The relay will travel through all 50 U.S. states before arriving in Los Angeles.
3 Atlanta was the last U.S. city to host the Summer Olympics, according to Yahoo Sports.

The torch relay for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will begin in Atlanta and pass through all 50 U.S. states before reaching its final destination, according to multiple outlets.

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Atlanta was chosen as the symbolic starting point because it was the last U.S. city to host the Summer Olympics, according to Yahoo Sports.

The Los Angeles Times reported on the reasoning behind LA28's choice of Atlanta as the starting city for the relay.

How each side covered it

Left

2 outlets
  • The Associated Press reported the relay will begin in Atlanta and travel through all 50 states before reaching LA.
  • The Los Angeles Times examined why LA28 selected Atlanta as the starting point.

“2028 Olympic torch relay to begin in Atlanta and travel through all 50 states before arriving in LA” — Associated Press

Center

3 outlets
  • Yahoo Sports noted Atlanta was the last U.S. city to host the Summer Olympics.
  • The Straits Times and CNA both reported the relay will cross all 50 states.

“LA28 Olympic Torch Relay will visit all U.S. states, with symbolic start in Atlanta” — Yahoo Sports

Right

1 outlet
  • Independent Journal Review described the 50-state torch relay as a developing storyline.

“LA28 Olympic torch relay to span all 50 states — developing storyline” — Independent Journal Review

Questions readers ask

Where will the 2028 Olympic torch relay begin?

The torch relay for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will begin in Atlanta, according to multiple outlets.

How many states will the torch relay pass through?

The relay will travel through all 50 U.S. states before arriving in Los Angeles, according to reports from the Associated Press, Yahoo Sports, The Straits Times, CNA, and Independent Journal Review.

Why was Atlanta chosen as the starting point?

Atlanta was selected because it was the last U.S. city to host the Summer Olympics, according to Yahoo Sports.

Sources · 6 outlet reports

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