A Santa Monica woman known as the “Olympics Superfan” has a deep-rooted love for the Games, all thanks to a woman who will always be deeply rooted in her heart — her mother.
Step into Vivianne Robinson’s home in Santa Monica and it’s immediately clear: she loves the Olympics.
Like, really, really loves them.
Her home is a shrine to all things Olympics, filled with memorabilia from the Olympics over the decades, including posters, stuffed animals (Sam, the 1984 LA Olympics mascot is, of course, her favorite), and a massive collection of Olympic pins from Tokyo, Paris, Beijing, and Los Angeles, to name a few Games.
“[I have] thousands of pins,” Vivianne told NBC Los Angeles, with a chuckle. “I don’t know [how many], I’ve never counted them.”
Registration to get tickets to LA28 is still open. Adrian Arambulo explains the process on NBC4 at 8 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2028.
NBCLA visited Vivianne’s home, where she gave us a tour while sporting the ultimate Olympic fan look: A white outfit covered with patches and pins; a T-shirt with the LA28 logo all over it; a matching hat topped with Olympic flags; earrings featuring the iconic Olympic rings; and colorful Crocs adorned with LA28 charms.
Vivianne proudly showed us some of her beloved Olympics memorabilia, including a flagpole featuring flags from Olympics past.
She brings that flagpole with her to every Olympics because for her, the Games feel like home.
She traveled to the Athens, London, and Brazil Olympics.
Paris 2024 was Vivianne’s seventh Olympics, where she had a chance encounter with Today in LA’s Lynette Romero. They bonded over being from Los Angeles.
Vivianne Robinson is hard to miss on the streets of Paris. Decked out in Olympic pins, flags and trinkets, she is enjoying her 40-year passion on attending Olympic Summer Games. Mekahlo Medina reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Aug. 2 2024.
“LA will be my eighth Olympics,” she said.
Vivianne said her Olympics fandom was inspired by her mother, Odile Robinson, and her lifelong love of the Games.
Odile volunteered as a French translator at LA84, and that’s where Vivianne’s love for the Olympics was born.
“That’s where it all started,” Vivianne explained. “She would come home and bring me all kinds of Olympic pins.”
Vivianne said every time Odile remembered her stint at LA84, she would absolutely light up.
“She never stopped talking about it,” Robinson recalled with a laugh. “Once she volunteered, she had such a good time.”
The exhibit, The Eternal Flame, takes a look back to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic. Kathy Vara reports for NBC4 at 8 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2026.
Odile died a few weeks ago at the age of 91.
Before Odile’s death, Vivianne recorded a video of her mom vowing her devotion to the Olympics. In the clip, Odile is wearing her light blue 1984 Los Angeles Olympics volunteer outfit.
“You ready to volunteer for the LA28 Olympics?” Vivianne asked her mom in the video.
“Right?” her mom replied, with a sweet smile. “I’m ready to volunteer for the next Olympics.”
Today, Vivianne keeps her mom’s 1984 Olympics outfit neatly on display on a wall. A photo of Odile wearing the outfit at LA84 rests on the outfit — the perfect heartfelt accessory.
“So, this was a tribute to my mom. I put it right there,” she told NBCLA. “But she really wanted to be here for the next Olympics.”
Vivianne said she’ll carry the torch for her mom and keep the Olympic fandom going strong for the 2028 LA Olympics.
She plans to attend the Games and root for the Olympians, with her mom’s memory top of mind.
“[I’ll] just be there, thinking about her,” said Vivianne. “I’ll never forget my mom’s experiences. I was hoping she would still be here for [LA28].”
Vivianne’s spirit at LA28 will, as always, be worthy of gold.
“I just can’t wait. I don’t know what to say, but I’m so excited,” she added.
Los Angeles is preparing to host the world in 2028 and hosting the opening ceremony will be the LA Memorial Coliseum. Mekhalo Medina reports for NBC4 at 8 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2026.
When are the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
The Olympics will return to Los Angeles for an historic third time in 2028.
The LA 2028 Olympics Opening Ceremony is July 14, 2028 with competition through July 30, 2028. The LA28 Paralympic Games will kick off Aug. 15, 2028 and close Aug. 27, 2028.
The organizing committee has released a first look at the competition schedule. Field hockey, basketball, rugby sevens, water polo, handball and cricket will be the first sports to kick off the competition on July 12, two days before the Opening Ceremony.
The first full date of competition, designated Day 1, is July 15. The order of events includes a twist for 2028 with track and field and swimming swapping their typical schedules. Track and field will compete at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the first week of the Olympics schedule with swimming moving to the second week at SoFi Stadium.
The marathons will still be on the final weekend.
Former city councilman Paul Krekorian talks about how Los Angeles to welcome the world in 2028. Lynette Romero reports for NBC4 at 8 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2026.
The first medal will be awarded in triathlon on Day 1 in Venice Beach. July 29, or Day 15, will be the busiest day on the podium with 16 gold and bronze events in team sports and 19 individual medal events.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will host the opening ceremony in a duel-venue celebration. The Paralympic opening ceremony will be at SoFi Stadium with the closing ceremony at the Coliseum.
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