STAFF REPORTS
West Covina – In a press release from the City of West Covina, they recently announced that they have
(Photo Courtesy: http://www.specialolympics.org)
been officially selected to participate in the Special Olympics World Games “Host Town” program, July 21 through 24, in 2015. The Games will officially begin on July 25, 2015, and more than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries will be welcomed to Southern California through this program. One hundred communities from San Luis Obispo to San Diego will have this esteemed honor.
As a Host Town, West Covina will provide culture, training and accommodations to international athletes participating in the Special Olympics. This program provides an excellent opportunity for the community to open its doors to American culture, as well as share their own unique culture.
West Covina residents and businesses plan to roll out the red carpet for the visiting athletes, with community rallies, a summer concert in the park, old-fashioned American cuisine, and diverse activities to showcase West Covina as part of the melting pot of Southern California.
The Host Town program has been an important element of Special Olympics World Games since 1995, and the experience has left a lasting impression on the local communities in Ireland, Japan, China, Greece, South Korea and the United States, all of which have previously organized Host Town programs as part of the Special Olympics World Games.
The largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere, this will be the single biggest event in the Los Angeles area since the 1984 Olympic Games. The 2015 Special Olympics World Games, with the unparalleled spirit, enthusiasm, teamwork, joy and displays of courage and skill that are hallmarks of all Special Olympics events, will feature 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. The Opening Ceremony, to be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. Honorary Chairs of the Games are President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Jerry Brown serving as Honorary Hosts.
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than four million athletes in 177 countries. This organization helps unleash the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports. With the support of over one million coaches and volunteers, the Special Olympics helps to address inactivity, injustice, intolerance and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities which leads to a more welcoming and inclusive society.
For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org.
