Watch 14th Special Olympics Games Live Streaming Online

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.

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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

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.