Kansas City hopes to welcome Olympic torch back to the Heart of America

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City leaders are hoping the Olympic torch will once again pass through the Heart of America ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

While nothing is official yet, city leaders took an early step last month by approving an ordinance outlining Kansas City’s interest in becoming an Olympic torch relay stop.

The ordinance also allows the city manager to fund public safety costs related to the event through the annual budget over the next two years if Kansas City is selected.

Residents we spoke with said they support the idea and believe it could showcase the city on a global stage.

“Meeting all the people, seeing everything going on, shopping — I think it will all be worth it,” said Mariana Molina.

“I think it’s great. It will just bring more people in to show them what we got,” Shannon Crompton added.

This would not be the first time the Olympic flame traveled through Kansas City.

During the 2002 Winter Olympics torch relay ahead of the Salt Lake City Games, the torch made its way through Kansas City along an 18-mile route. According to KSHB 41 archives, 82 Kansas Citians carried the Olympic flame through the city.

Among them was former KSHB 41 Chief Meteorologist Gary Lezak, who carried the torch while celebrating his recovery from bone cancer.

Some residents said they were surprised to learn the torch had previously come through Kansas City.

“It came here in 2002? Oh wow. I was here — why don’t I remember that?” Crompton said.

A city spokesperson said Kansas City is still in the early stages of the process. If the city is ultimately selected, residents already have ideas for where the route should go.

“The Plaza is a good stop, downtown,” Molina suggested.

“Power & Light, Westport — it just needs to go all over and we need to take it,” Crompton added.

According to the Olympics website, organizers are working with federal, state and local governments to streamline transportation and security planning. Organizers also say the current plan is for the Olympic torch relay to travel through all 50 states ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.