Sunday, September 18, 2011

Los Angeles to Host the 2015 Special Olympic World Summer Games

Up Date from Special Olympics International Board of Directors



Hello colleagues,
FYI, planning and further action. Have a fantastic weekend.

Dear Colleagues:

The Special Olympics International Board of Directors announced today that Los Angeles, California will be the host site for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games!  

On the world stage of Los Angeles, these Games will be yet another wonderful opportunity for our movement to showcase the talent and skills of our athletes. 

Over the next four years, LA will get ready to welcome more than 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 170 nations who will come to demonstrate to the world that they are the best in sport! 

These Games, which are expected to bring more than a half-million people to the greater Los Angeles area, will be held in July 2015. 

As many of you saw earlier, the announcement was made at a press event at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, and was attended by Olympic legends, performers, business leaders, government officials -- including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa -- and Special Olympics athletes.

The event was hosted by Donna DeVarona, Co-Chair of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors Games Committee, and Dustin Plunkett, Special Olympics Southern California athlete, International Global Messenger and member of the Los Angeles 2015 Games Bid Committee.

Special Olympics International Board Members Maria Shriver, Michelle Kwan and Loretta Claiborne were also there to show their support, along with Bill Shumard, President of Special Olympics Southern California. 

Many of you already know Patrick McClenahan who is a loving parent of a child with a disability and the former Chairman of Special Olympics Southern California.  Patrick will be the President & CEO of the Special Olympics World Summer Games Los Angeles 2015 Games Organizing Committee.

He deeply understands what these Games can do for all of us in making LA and the world a more accepting and joyful place. 

As he said during the event, “In a city full of movie stars and all-stars, our Special Olympics athletes will be the stars of this show as they demonstrate their skills, courage and joy.”

I hope you will join me in celebrating this opportunity for our athletes to show the world their courage, ability and joy, and for our entire movement to draw Hollywood’s spotlight to the dignity and acceptance of every individual.

Sincerely,


President & Chief Operating Officer                      
Special Olympics International                                 

No comments:

Post a Comment