Member Spotlight: Cafe UCLA

To cheer on the Bruins attending the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games, Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA) hosted Café UCLA in the heart of France just in time for the opening games. The activation combined a popular Parisian destination, Café Fleurus, with the UCLA brand for fellow Bruins going to the Games.  

With many UCLA athletes, coaches, alumni and fans present for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Café UCLA showed blue and gold support overseas with the university brand presence. The activation further tied the 2024 Games in Paris with the Bruin’s home in Los Angeles, in anticipation of the LA28 Olympics and Paralympic Games.  

“Bruins past, present and future strive to best reflect the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship, and practice the Paralympics values of determination, inspiration, courage and equality in everything that we do,” stated Pouria Abbassi, ASUCLA executive director and CEO, in a July 22 press release. “It is our honor to bring a bit of home to our global community gathering for the Olympics.” 

Café UCLA opened on July 25 from 7:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. at 39 Av. Kléber, 75116 Paris, France. Bruins in Western Europe were welcome to enjoy a coffee and learn more about UCLA’s athletic legacy at the Olympics and what LA28 will look like moving forward to the next summer games.  

Participating Bruins attended a panel of UCLA head coaches, alumni and other notable Bruins at Café UCLA on July 25 at 6 p.m. The speaker panel included The Michael Price Family UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach Cori Close and UCLA Beach Volleyball Head Coach Jenny Johnson Jordan who discussed the evolution of women’s athletics, UCLA’s history at the Olympics and efforts to make future Games like LA28 supporting and welcoming for future Olympians. The speaker panel also included former UCLA athlete Baron Davis, a two-time National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star, in the discussion. 

As the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics were held between July 26 to Aug. 11, Café UCLA opened for the start of the opening games and remained open until July 28 for Bruins from around the world to enjoy. Those who visited the café were further invited to enjoy a free coffee, courtesy of ASUCLA, between July 27-28.