14th Special Olympics World Summer Games
Watch Special Olympics 2015 Opening CeremonyLive Streaming Online
LOS ANGELES — The Special Olympics World
Games 2015 start tonight (Saturday, July 25) with The Opening Ceremonies
live from Los Angeles.
First Lady Michelle Obama is expected to
attend, and stars set to perform in the Opening Ceremonies include
Stevie Wonder and Avril Lavigne.
Live Streaming LINK 1
Live Streaming LINK 2
More than 6,500 athletes from 165
countries are expected to compete in the Games in 25 events at various
venues around the city through Aug. 2.
Host city: Los Angeles, United States
Nations participating : 177
Athletes participating: 7,000
Events: 26 Olympic-style events
Opening ceremony: July 25, 2015
Closing ceremony: August 2, 2015
Main venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Nations participating : 177
Athletes participating: 7,000
Events: 26 Olympic-style events
Opening ceremony: July 25, 2015
Closing ceremony: August 2, 2015
Main venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The 2015 Special Olympics World Summer
Games is a sporting event that will be held in Los Angeles on July 25 to
August 2, 2015.[1] It will be the first Special Olympics World Summer
Games held in the United States in 16 years.[2] LA 2015 marks the second
time that the World Games will be hosted in Los Angeles. Los Angeles
hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1932 and 1984. It was announced on
September 15, 2011 that Los Angeles won its bid, beating out a bid from
South Africa.[3] It is expected that the games will attract about 30,000
volunteers.[4] The Games will be a celebration of the talents,
perseverance and achievements of those with intellectual disabilities,
furthering the global mission of Special Olympics, founded in 1968 by
Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
The games are being billed as the
largest-ever gathering of nations in the city — the 1984 Summer Olympics
hosted 140 countries. First Lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to speak
and Stevie Wonder will be the top entertainment headliner. Jimmy Kimmel,
Eva Longoria, Yao Ming and Greg Louganis are also among those scheduled
to appear.
The Games got their start in 1962 as a
summer day camp in the backyard of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, whose older
sister had an intellectual disability.
Shriver believed sports could unify
communities, and she was intent on giving people like her sister the
opportunity to explore their physical talents.
The first international Special Olympics
were held in Chicago in 1968. The movement now serves more than 4
million people around the world, draws corporate sponsors and has cities
vying to host it. Some predict the L.A. Games will bring 500,000
spectators and $400 million to the area.
To make it to the world stage, athletes
must have medaled in a state or regional competition, commit to six
weeks of training in their sport and be at least 8 years old. Special
consideration is given to those who have never attended the Games
before.
The United States has the largest
delegation, with 344 athletes who convened at UC Riverside to train for a
few days before joining the other competitors in the athlete villages
at USC and UCLA.
The spirit of the World Games relies on a
unique structure. It shies away from nationalism. Delegates do not
carry flags. Patrons watch events for free. Medals are given to the top
three finishers, and ribbons are handed out to the rest. Inclusion is
trumpeted, as are courage, unity, dignity, tolerance — and joy.
