2015 Special Olympics World Games Factbook
The Special Olympics WORLD GAMES FACTBOOK 3.0 1 July 2015 SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES LOS ANGELES 2015: AT A GLANCE The Games: Held every two years and alternating between Summer Games and Winter Games, the Special Olympics World Games is a direct descendant of the July 1968 event organized by Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the City of Chicago to foster new opportunities for acceptance and inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Today, Special Olympics has grown to touch more than 4.4 million athletes annually worldwide. Summer editions of the World Games were held in the U.S. through 1999, then went international, to Dublin, Ireland in 2003, Shanghai, China in 2007 and Athens, Greece in 2011. Los Angeles was selected in 2011 to host the 2015 Games. Athletes: Approximately 6,500 Special Olympics Athletes are expected to compete in Los Angeles, from 165 Special Olympics Accredited Programs from around the world. Schedule: The Games will begin with the Opening Ceremony at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on 25 July 2015, continue through 2 August, with the Closing Ceremony in the Coliseum. Most delegations will arrive on 20-21 July, and after being welcomed at Loyola Marymount University, will move to one of 85 Host Towns in communities throughout the greater Southern California area. They will move into the Athlete’s Villages at UCLA and USC on 24 July. Sports: A total of 25 sports will be held: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Equestrian, Football (soccer), Golf, Gymnastics – Artistic, Gymnastics – Rhythmic, Handball, Judo, Kayaking, Open Water Swimming, Powerlifting, Sailing, Softball, Roller Skating, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon and Volleyball.
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