In the lead-up to the Olympics here in Paris, we continue our series on the long-term impacts of the Games on host cities. We head to California, where Los Angeles was the only city vying to host the 1984 Olympics after Tehran withdrew. The mood heading into the Games had lost its appeal, as they were touted as too expensive and political. But forty years later, they have proven to be a success story, transforming the lives of local residents. This report comes from our correspondents Pierrick Leurent, Valérie Defert, and Wassim Cornet.