Bid leaders applauded the volunteers for making the 1984 Games a success, pointing to their contributions as a key factor behind Angelenos’ support for bringing the Games back to Los Angeles for a third time.

More than 100 volunteers from the 1984 Games were joined at the reunion by Olympic champions and Los Angeles 2024 Athletes’ Advisory Commission members Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci.

Conner, who won two Olympic gymnastics gold medals in 1984, delivered the keynote speech, thanking the volunteers for their contributions, and presided over the lighting of the Coliseum’s cauldron.

"Simply put, the Games cannot happen without the help of volunteers," he said.

"They are the soul of the Games.

"Volunteers are essential to ensuring athletes have everything they need to perform at their very best come competition day.

"The volunteers at the 1984 Games were unparalleled in their enthusiasm, work ethic and passion.

"It’s an honour to be here today to celebrate their contributions to the 1984 Games and the Olympic Movement."

Los Angeles 2024 bid leaders pledged to build on the 1984 Games' legacy of Olympic volunteerism.

In February, the Bid Committee established a first-of-its-kind volunteer service programme that highlights opportunities in 2017 for Angelenos to make a difference in their communities through volunteer work and community service.

Since the programme’s inception, Los Angeles 2024 has attracted more than 12,000 volunteers and has provided support for the Angel City Games, Discover LA, Friends of the LA River, Heal the Bay, LA Marathon, Special Olympics Southern California and the United Way of Greater LA among others. 

"The more than 30,000 volunteers of the LA 1984 Games set a tremendous and inspiring example for our Bid Committee," Los Angeles 2024 chief executive Gene Sykes said.

"The power of the Games and Angelenos’ enthusiasm to help each other is such that LA 2024 has already been able to attract more than 12,000 volunteers who are ready to serve our city today."

In addition to interacting with Olympians and perusing a wide variety of Olympic memorabilia, volunteers were also asked to share their favourite memories of the Los Angeles 1984 Games.

"It was an amazing experience, helping with the Opening and Closing Ceremonies," Helen Yoon said.

"It made me so proud to be an American, meeting and hosting athletes from all over the world.

"Also, the lack of traffic made it so easy to drive around."

Los Angeles 2024 bid leaders claimed that Wednesday's (July 26) soccer match at the LA Memorial Coliseum between Real Madrid and Manchester City as further evidence of the city’s "unique potential" to grow Olympic and Paralympic sport in the United States and around the world.

The match, which finished 4-1 in Manchester City’s favour, broke the Coliseum’s record crowd for soccer by attracting more than 93,098 fans.

It was part of the International Champions Cup, a series of pre-season friendly games held in cities across the globe.

Real Madrid have spent the summer training at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), LA 2024’s proposed Olympic and Paralympic Village.

Manchester United have also trained at UCLA with manager Jose Mourinho praising the facilities and operations.