因為近幾屆奧運會耗資不斷加強與政治原因的干擾，使得申辦奧運會的城市望而卻步，愈加少。本屆奧運會的申辦城市原有兩家，除洛杉磯外，還有伊朗的德黑蘭，但出于上述種種緣由，德黑蘭中途退出。因此，在1978年國際奧委會雅典年會上，洛杉磯在沒對手的狀況下，獲得了本屆奧運會的承辦權。1932年洛市曾主辦過第十屆奧運會，52年過去，奧林匹克圣火第三在這里燃起，使它成為繼巴黎、倫敦之后，第三個舉行兩屆夏天奧運會的城市。

歷屆奧運回顧：1984年洛杉磯奧運會KEY FACTS

Opening date: 28 July 1984

Closing date: 12 August 1984

The Host City:Los Angeles

Sports: 23

LOS ANGELES 1984 Games of the XXIII Olympiad

Although a revenge boycott1 led by the Soviet2 Union depleted3 the field in certain sports, a record 140 nations took part. Joan Benoit won the inaugural4 women's marathon and Connie Carpenter-Phinney the first women's cycling road race.

Carl Lewis won both sprints5 and the long jump and earned a fourth gold in the 4x100m relay. Pertti Karppinen won single sculls rowing for the third time. Sebastian Coe became the first repeat winner of the men's 1,500m. Archer6 Neroli Fairhall was the first paraplegic athlete to take part in a medal event. She competed in a wheelchair.
Do You Know? 允許職業足球運動員參加奧運會？

Professionals were allowed to participate in the football tournament - as long as they had not yet taken part in the World Cup. This led to a spirited final -viewed by 101,799 spectators - in which France defeated Brazil 2-0.

這屆奧運會上允許職業運動員參加足球比賽，只須他們不參加世界杯。這直接導致了決賽爆滿的場景，最后法國隊以2－0擊敗了巴西隊奪冠。