# Americans May Care More About Welcoming the World Than Winning the Most Olympic Medals 2026-11-03 · United States · Reported Feature A new survey ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games suggests that hospitality, local culture and public access may matter as much as what happens on the medal podium. A new survey ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games suggests that hospitality, local culture and public access may matter as much as what happens on the medal podium. --- America could win the most Olympic medals in 2028 and still leave people in the host city feeling like spectators. A new study released October 20 by Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC), conducted in partnership with YouGov, suggests Americans have a broader definition of Olympic success. Twenty-six percent of U.S. adults surveyed said they would take greater pride in international visitors feeling welcomed by the country, compared with 19% who chose Team USA winning the most medals. The distinction is revealing. Olympic success is traditionally measured through athletic achievement, television audiences and national prestige. But hosting the world also offers a chance to show visitors what a country is like beyond the stadium. That sense of hospitality extends to the host city's own residents. Among 324 Los Angeles adults surveyed, 58% worried that the best experiences surrounding the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games would not be easily accessible to everyday people. For Americans interested in experiencing the Games, inclusion does not necessarily require a ticket to a major competition. Half said free public events would help them feel part of the celebration, while 41% pointed to public watch parties. Respondents also wanted the Games to showcase a version of Los Angeles that goes beyond its familiar tourist attractions. Thirty-five percent of respondents wanted the Games to showcase the city's diversity, while 30% highlighted everyday life, 29% its food culture and 28% neighborhoods beyond Hollywood and the beaches. There is a commercial dimension to that expectation. Among respondents who saw a role for brands at the Games, 73% preferred help making tickets, transportation and food more affordable, compared with 25% who favored additional experiences. For companies hoping to participate in the Olympic spectacle, removing barriers may be more appealing than creating another branded attraction. The findings come from online surveys of 1,049 U.S. adults and 324 Los Angeles adults conducted in early October 2026. ACC, a marketing and communications agency group, released the research ahead of the Los Angeles Games, scheduled for July 14-30, 2028, followed by the Paralympics from August 15-27. None of this suggests Americans have stopped caring about medals. Rather, the results point toward another measure of national pride: how well the country treats the people who come to visit, and whether those who live in the host city get to share in the occasion. The medal count will tell the world who won the competitions. Whether Los Angeles succeeds as a host may depend just as much on what happens outside the venues. SOURCE REFERENCES Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC) / YouGov, "A New Gold Standard: ACC Study Reveals a Changing Definition of Olympic Success Ahead of LA28," October 20, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-new-gold-standard-acc-study-reveals-a-changing-definition-of-olympic-success-ahead-of-la28-302913809.html LA28, "LA28 Announces Official Dates for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games." https://la28.org/en/newsroom/LA28_Announces_Games_Dates.html --- ProbleMattic is written and maintained by Matthew Kulcsar, a software engineer, project manager, technologist, platform builder, emergency-services-trained helper, grandfather, and lifelong collector of broken systems, odd behaviors, and useful nonsense.