WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are ratcheting up security efforts ahead of major international sports events in the United States over the next three years, citing concerns from recent political attacks that could possibly put attendees and athletes at risk.
The House Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States met for a closed-door briefing on Wednesday to meet with the heads of security from FIFA and the Los Angeles Olympic Games Organizing Committee to discuss safety concerns ahead of the events in 2026 and 2028, respectively. The task force was created earlier this year in May to identify risks and strategize how to avoid large-scale attacks or security compromises.
“The risk of security preparedness for the next year requires strong public-private information sharing efforts and effective security coordination between government, private sector and our foreign partners,” task force Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said in public remarks ahead of the private briefing.
McCaul highlighted three major concerns heading into the sports events, such as cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, online radicalization and the use of unmanned drones.
Details of upcoming safety plans and how lawmakers can work with organization leaders were discussed behind closed doors to ensure “a more candid discussion,” according to McCaul.
However, some members were frustrated the details could not be discussed in the public forum, lamenting that officials from FIFA and the Olympics organizing committee declined to appear unless it was confidential.
“I understand the reluctance to testify publicly about ongoing security planning and potential gaps, but this committee regularly holds testimony from law enforcement and intelligence agencies in a public setting,” Rep. Nellie Pou, D-N.J., who is the top Democrat on the task force, said in her opening remarks.
Lawmakers press for security preparedness against ‘foreign threats’
Lawmakers on the committee repeatedly stressed the importance of being proactive with its safety plans, pointing to the task force’s mission of identifying security challenges and preventing attacks.
To do so, McCaul noted lawmakers must work with the international organizations to share public and private information to ensure “effective security coordination between government, private sector and our foreign partners.”
New York Rep. Andrew Garbarino, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, warned that while the U.S. prepares to host the two international events, foreign adversaries “are watching.”
“From cyber intrusions to domestic, homegrown and foreign terrorists seeking to make a statement on the world stage, we face heightened and evolving threats on U.S. soil,” Garbarino said. “Particularly a concern that law enforcement officials consistently bring up in discussions with members of this committee is a threat posed by drones.”
The FIFA World Cup — which will be hosted between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — and the Los Angeles Olympic Games will host millions of spectators as well as thousands of athletes. Security planning for both events began early last year, involving international officials as well as federal authorities.
“To put the task of hosting the games into perspective, the L.A. ‘28 Olympics will be equal to hosting seven Super Bowls per day for 16 consecutive days,” Voviette Morgan, senior vice president of safety and security of the Olympic organizing committee, said on Wednesday. “And the Paralympics will be equal to hosting two Super Bowls per day for 12 consecutive days.”
Cyberattacks in 2024 Paris Olympic Games pose warnings for LA
Morgan specifically cited cyberattacks during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as a warning for officials in Los Angeles, pressing the need for local and international leaders to learn from those incidents ahead of the 2028 contest.
The 2024 Games reported significant cyber threats, resulting in more than 140 attacks, according to French cybersecurity agency ANSSI. While none of the attacks disrupted the Games itself, the threats specifically targeted government entities, sports organizations, transportation and telecommunications infrastructure.
“The Paris Games in 2024 faced unprecedented cybersecurity challenges,” Morgan said. “The Paris Games had 10 times more cyberattacks than Tokyo did in 2022 with over 50 billion events.”
Organizers for the 2028 LA Games participated in the Paris 2024 Cybersecurity Operations Center, which monitored the event’s security around the clock to identify and respond to any security threats. In doing so, Morgan said, organizers for the Winter Games “brought back many lessons learned” — especially in relation to unmanned drones.
“The persistent threat of unmanned aircraft systems have surged in recent years to make the detection and mitigation of drones one of the overarching concerns for any sporting event,” Morgan said. “LA 28 appreciates the work that this committee has done seeking to expand authorities to detect and mitigate unmanned aircraft systems.”
Utah security for 2034 Games not yet decided but will have ‘highest level’
Utah’s next Olympics in 2034 will be designated a “National Special Security Event” and “will already have the highest level of security,” according to Fraser Bullock, president and executive chair of the Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
What measures will be taken when the state once again welcomes the world some 8½ years from now won’t be decided for some time. After being awarded the Games in July 2024, organizers have more than the typical seven years to prepare.
The National Special Security Event designation likely won’t be made official for a while. The next Olympics in the U.S., the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, received the designation and began the formal planning process with federal authorities last year.
Designated events, which also include Super Bowls and the Republican and Democratic national political conventions where presidential candidates are nominated, are provided with “exceptional” security, Bullock said.