Los Angeles is getting a head-start to the next Olympics by paying tribute to its greatest icon. The 2028 Olympics’ official emblem was built for the digital age, which allows different versions to reflect the diversity and many faces of LA. And the latest one immortalizes Kobe Bryant symbolically, which was designed by his widow, Vanessa Bryant, who unveiled it with great pride. The Black Mamba was a major advocate in pushing the City of Angels to host the Olympics. Now they’re making it so that it’s Kobe Bryant who’s hosting LA28.

The official page of the LA28 games collaborated with Vanessa Bryant for the emotional unveiling of the new logo. “We can’t talk about LA without celebrating the one and only legendary Kobe Bryant,” the post read. “Check out the 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, 5x NBA Champion Kobe Bryant custom LA28 emblem designed by @vanessabryant. #NextUpLA28.”

After the Paris Olympics paid Bryant a tribute, LA is centering its games around The Black Mamba from the get-go, starting from the logo that Vanessa designed. In an emotional montage, Vanessa said, “Kobe was the ultimate athlete and he took his role as an Olympian very seriously.” She added that Bryant, “loved to show up for his fellow athletes and take in the competition at the world’s highest level.”

Among the montage of Bryant playing in the London and Beijing games, there were several throwbacks of him watching the games with his daughters, including Gianna. The part that will move the hardest of hearts is Bryant’s old message with the Lakers franchise’s multiple Larry O’Brien trophies in the background.

“There are so many icons that come from the City of Los Angeles, that live in the City of Los Angeles, in so many different fields that it makes complete sense to host the Olympics here because there’s so many things that you can with the Olympic games that you can elevate it to a higher level,” Bryant said years ago while campaigning for LA as the next host.

Upon unveiling the logo, Vanessa said, “We hope this inspires the Mamba Mentality in every aspiring Olympian and Paralympian. We’re so proud to see this emblem represent the Los Angeles games.”

And it wasn’t the only time Kobe was repped at the Olympics.

Kobe Bryant puts the Mamba Mentality in the Olympics

Kobe Bryant’s presence was strongly felt in the Paris Olympics four years after his passing. The one that went viral online was the image that greeted Team USA at the hotel in Lille. The hotel walls featured Bryant’s famous shushing image in his iconic #10 Team USA jersey (that was bestowed on Jayson Tatum this year) with a reminder to, “Silence ’em.” 

The Mamba Mentality was wholeheartedly embodied all the way to another gold medal. It was also felt by the other athletes who Bryant vocally cheered for. After the Team USA women’s basketball team also secured the gold, his protégé Sabrina Ionescu included Vanessa Bryant in the celebrations.

After that win, the closing ceremony had a dramatic handover to LA, including Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise and LA Mayor Karen Bass. The unexpected showstopper of the Olympics, Snoop Dogg returned to the closing ceremony wearing a t-shirt that paid tribute to Bean too. It definitely sets the tone for the 2028 Olympics in Kobe’s town.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger