2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Multi-sport event in Los Angeles, California, US 14th Special Olympics World Summer Games 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games logo.svg Los Angeles, United States Reach Up L.A. 177 6,500 in 25 sports July 25, 2015 August 2, 2015 Michelle Obama Jamaal Charles Rafer Johnson and Destiny Sanchez http://www.la2015.org/ Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 2011 Athens 2019 Abu Dhabi 2013 PyeongChang 2017 Austria The 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games were a multi-sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities held in Los Angeles, United States from July 25 to August 2, 2015, in the tradition of the Special Olympics movement. thumb|right|300px|Athletes entering the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for closing ceremonies on August 2, 2015. These Games, hosted around 6,500 athletes from 177 countries, marked the first time in sixteen years that the biennial Special Olympics World Summer Games have been hosted by the United States, and the second hosted by Los Angeles since 1972. The medal tally was led by the United States followed by China and India respectively. Background The 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games were awarded to Los Angeles on September 15, 2011, beating a bid by South Africa. The city's bid was backed by Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, who had backed the city's failed bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics (awarded to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Patrick McClenahan, chief of the organizing committee, had encountered representatives of Special Olympics International at the Southern California Law Enforcement Torch Run, a local event benefitting Special Olympics Southern California. The group suggested that Los Angeles bid for the 2015 World Summer Games. The bid quickly garnered support, with his committee having grown to 20 members, including athletes and Mayor Villaraigosa, only two weeks later. Amongst other receptions held during a visit by the selection committee to Los Angeles, a group of Special Olympics athletes participating in the World Summer Games in Athens were honored between quarters at a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game that the committee were attending, resulting in an ovation from fans in attendance. Villaraigosa felt "prouder" that the city would host the Special Olympics World Summer Games instead of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Of the bid, McClenahan stated that "In a city full of movie stars and sports stars, the athletes are going to be the stars of the show. "L.A. will create the world stage where the athletes can perform, show their skills and courage and determination and sportsmanship and as a result of that people come in contact with them and their perceptions change that leads to an awareness that leads to more inclusion and acceptance into the community."http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/other_news/1216135892.html "In a city full of stars" Special Olympians will stand out in Los Angeles in 2015 GamesBids.com 2011-10-09 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111004064226/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/other_news/1216135892.html 2011-10-04 Los Angeles to host 2015 Special Olympics Summer Games https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2011-sep-15-la-me-special-olympics-20110915-story.html 1 August 2015 Los Angeles Times The Games Venues These Games were primarily held on the campuses of the University of Southern California and University of California, Los Angeles; USC hosted athletics (Cromwell Field and Loker Stadium), aquatics (Uytengsu Aquatics Center), and basketball (Galen Center) events, while UCLA hosted 5-a-side football (Intramural Fields) 11-a-side football (Drake Stadium and the North Athletic Field), badminton, gymnastics, judo, softball, tennis (Los Angeles Tennis Center) and volleyball (Pauley Pavilion). Other venues in Los Angeles were used, such as the Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles Equestrian Center, Lucky Strike Lanes for bowling, the Balboa Sports Center in Encino for 7-a-side football, the Los Angeles Municipal Courses, Griffith Park for golf. The city of Long Beach hosted competition in kayaking, the marathon, volleyball, and demonstration sports.All Venues http://www.la2015.org/venues/ LA2015.org 6 August 2015L.A. nimble, ready to host Special Olympics World Games https://www.espn.com/specialolympics/story/_/id/13285364/los-angeles-prepared-host-special-olympics-world-games ESPN.com 20 July 2015 6 August 2015 The use of USC and UCLA was based on their abilities to provide accommodations for the large number of athletes that participated in the Games, as well as their existing sports facilities. To minimize travel time and reduce the Games' impact on local traffic, a centralized athlete's village was not used. Athletes were instead assigned facilities at either UCLA or USC based on the sports they were to participate in. Downtown Los Angeles Convention Center Halls E & F: Handballhttp://www.la2015.org/venues/convention-center Convention Center - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 December 27, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151227042847/http://www.la2015.org/venues/convention-center dead South Hall: Badminton, Bocce, Roller Skating, Table Tennis Lucky Strike LA Live: Bowlinghttp://www.la2015.org/venues/balboa-sports-center Lucky Strike LA Live - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 Encino Balboa Sports Center: Football (Soccer) 7-a-sidehttp://www.la2015.org/venues/balboa-sports-center Balboa Sports Center - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 Griffith Park Los Angeles Equestrian Center: Equestrianhttp://www.la2015.org/venues/los-angeles-equestrian-center Los Angeles Equestrian Center - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 November 20, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151120225941/http://www.la2015.org/venues/los-angeles-equestrian-center dead Wilson and Harding Golf Coursehttp://www.la2015.org/venues/wilson-harding-golf-courses Wilson & Harding Golf Courses - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 Long Beach Alamitos Beach: Beach Volleyball and Beach Soccer(opening ceremony), Half Marathon, Open Water Swimming (demonstration), Triathlon (demonstration)http://www.la2015.org/venues/alamitos-beach Alamitos Beach - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 October 11, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151011180647/http://www.la2015.org/venues/alamitos-beach dead Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier: Sailinghttp://www.la2015.org/venues/belmont-pier Belmont Pier - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 November 1, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151101031803/http://www.la2015.org/venues/belmont-pier dead Long Beach Marine Stadium: Kayakhttp://www.la2015.org/venues/marine-stadium Marine Stadium - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 UCLA Drake Stadium: Football (Soccer) 11-A-Side 11,700http://www.la2015.org/venues/drake-stadium Drake Stadium - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 October 29, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151029191756/http://www.la2015.org/venues/drake-stadium dead Easton Stadium: Softball 1,300 seatshttp://www.la2015.org/venues/easton-field Easton Stadium - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 October 11, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151011181058/http://www.la2015.org/venues/easton-field dead Intramural Field: Football (Soccer) 5-A-Sidehttp://www.la2015.org/venues/intramural-field Intramural Field - Detail www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 John Wooden Recreation Center: Gymnastics (Artistic and Rhythmic)http://www.la2015.org/venues/john-wooden-center John Wooden Center- Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 Los Angeles Tennis Center: Tennis 5,800 seatshttp://www.la2015.org/venues/los-angeles-tennis-center Los Angeles Tennis Center - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 North Athletic Field: Football (Soccer) 11-a-sidehttp://www.la2015.org/venues/north-athletic-field North Athletic Field - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 September 9, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150909192352/http://www.la2015.org/venues/north-athletic-field dead Pauley Pavilion: Volleyball 13,800 seatshttp://www.la2015.org/venues/pauley-pavilion Pauley Pavilion - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 October 29, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151029192021/http://www.la2015.org/venues/pauley-pavilion dead Student Activities Center: Judohttp://www.la2015.org/venues/student-activities-center/ Student Activities Center - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 November 3, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151103102847/http://www.la2015.org/venues/student-activities-center/ dead USC Galen Center: Basketball 10,258 seatshttp://www.la2015.org/venues/galen-center Galen Center - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 Loker Stadium/ Cromwell Field: Athletics 1,900 seatshttp://www.la2015.org/venues/loker-stadium-cromwell-field Galen Center - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 Uytengsu Aquatics Center: Aquatics: 1,640http://www.la2015.org/venues/uytengsu-aquatics-center Uytengsu Aquatics Center - Details www.la2015.org 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee January 18, 2016 Sports 22em Aquatics Athletics Badminton Basketball Bocce Bowling Cricket Cycling Equestrian Football (soccer) Golf Gymnastics Handball Judo Kayaking Powerlifting Roller skating Sailing Softball Table tennis Tennis Volleyball Demonstration events in beach soccer, beach volleyball, open water swimming, and triathlon were also held. Participating nations Delegations to the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer GamesDelegations http://www.la2015.org/delegations 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee 22 July 2015 https://archive.today/20150724183104/http://www.la2015.org/delegations 2015-07-24 dead17em Afghanistan 2013 Albania Algeria American Samoa Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Cambodia Canada Cayman Islands Chile China Chinese Taipei Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of Congo Denmark Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Great Britain Greece Guatemala Guyana Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Haiti Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Four Provinces Flag.svg Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kosovo Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria Norway Pakistan Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States (host) Uruguay US Virgin Islands Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Zambia Zimbabwe Ceremonies The opening ceremony of the Games were held on July 25, 2015, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The ceremony featured performances by J Balvin, Becky G, Cassadee Pope, Cody Simpson, Mix Master Mike, O.A.R., Siedah Garrett, Stevie Wonder, and Avril Lavigne. Pussycat Dolls lead singer and Special Olympics ambassador Nicole Scherzinger sang the American national anthem.Sam's Secret Collection Nicole Scherzinger Special Olympics National Anthem in LA LIVE 7-25-15 2015-07-26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k7JLVmIflw 2018-05-17 A pre-recorded message by President Barack Obama was played, while First Lady Michelle Obama gave a speech in-person. The Flame of Hope was used by Special Olympian Destiny Sanchez, joined by Rafer Johnson, to light the stadium's Olympic cauldron (as Johnson had done in 1984).Plaschke Bill Special Olympics opening ceremony is out of this world http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-special-olympics-plaschke-20150726-column.html The Los Angeles Times 26 July 2015 28 July 2015 The closing ceremony of the Games were held on August 2, 2015. The ceremony featured performances by Andra Day, Carly Rae Jepsen, and O.A.R.. References 30em External links Official website Athens, Greece Special Olympics World Summer Games Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Category:Special Olympics World Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Category:Sports competitions in Los Angeles Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Category:August 2015 sports events in the United States Category:Parasports in the United States Category:Olympic Games in the United States Category:Events at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum