Hollywood powerhouse Peter Rice named LA28 Head of Ceremonies and Content

The LA28 Organising Committee has named global television and film executive Peter Rice the Head of Ceremonies and Content for the LA28 Paralympic Games and the Olympic Games, making him the first major Hollywood executive to lead Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies. 

As the lead executive producer for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2028 Games, Rice will shape how LA28 welcomes and bids farewell to the world on the greatest stage in sports. 

He will oversee the creative vision and physical production of all four ceremonies across two of Los Angeles’ most iconic venues, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the 2028 Stadium. This appointment reinforces the Organising Committee’s commitment to showcasing Hollywood storytelling and leveraging Los Angeles’ unique position as the entertainment capital of the world.

Rice will report directly to LA28 Chairperson and President, Casey Wasserman.

“Peter is one of the rare individuals whose expertise seamlessly combines creativity, operational insight and production excellence to deliver Ceremonies that will captivate audiences around the world,” Wasserman said. 

“He’s been a leading figure in shaping the modern television and film landscape and is the perfect asset to reimagining the delivery of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the digital age, leaving a legacy well beyond the Games. 

LA28 Ceremonies 

Rice’s leadership portfolio includes content that earned 51 Academy Award nominations, 42 Golden Globe nominations and 293 Emmy nominations, while overseeing more than 300 shows and over 4,000 hours of content annually across multiple platforms. 

His experience spans traditional television, streaming and film, a crucial expertise as the LA28 Games reach audiences across an evolving media landscape. 

“Los Angeles stand as a global beacon of entertainment, culture and diversity, and I’m incredibly honored to embark on this next chapter,” Rice said. “I look forward to delivering Ceremonies that honour the legacy of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and celebrate the cutting-edge future of the 2028 Stadium.

“These venues have hosted some of the most legendary moments in sports history, and I’m thrilled to deliver a powerful artistic experience that adds a new chapter to LA’s Olympic and Paralympic story.”

Rice began his career at 20th Century Fox in 1989, ascending through the company in various roles prior to his 2017 promotion to President of 21st Century Fox. Following Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, Rice assumed the role of Chairman of Walt Disney Television and Chairman of General Entertainment for The Walt Disney Company. 

The LA28 Games will open with the Olympic Opening Ceremony on 14 July 2028, shared between the LA Memorial Coliseum and the 2028 Stadium with both sites featuring artistic elements that celebrate LA’s cultural diversity and creative energy. The Olympic Closing Ceremony returns to the Coliseum on 30 July.

The Paralympic Ceremonies will follow, with the Opening at the 2028 Stadium on 15 August and the Closing at the Coliseum on 27 August, celebrating the first Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and creating a lasting legacy for both venues and the city.