Special Olympics World Games poised to be ‘most inspirational event ever’
Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports 9:41 a.m. EDT July 23, 2015

Photo Above: LA2015 CEO and President Patrick McClenahan shaking hands with former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at the 100 Days Away milestone. (Photo: Cory Hansen for Special Olympics)

LOS ANGELES — When the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968, she believed people with intellectual disabilities could change the world if given the proper stage.

This summer, another huge step toward that mission will be realized as the Special Olympics, now the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities, is poised to inspire a mass audience on its most far-reaching stage.

In a city powered by Hollywood stars, Special Olympians will take center stage Saturday through August 2. The World Summer Games, held every four years, will be the largest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games and one of the largest sports-and-humanitarian events anywhere in the world. Nearly 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches, representing 177 countries, will compete in 25 Olympic-style sports at venues throughout the Los Angeles region, including those on UCLA and USC’s campuses, downtown Los Angeles and water events in Long Beach.

“This will be the most inspirational event ever. That’s how big we’re shooting,” said Los Angeles World Games President and CEO Patrick McClenahan. “The fact that the World Games are back in the United States for the first time in 16 years is big, but the fact that it’s coming back to such a major market is even bigger. There’s no greater global stage than Los Angeles to create the awareness of acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.”

ESPN will provide live coverage of the Opening Ceremony along with nightly highlight reels.

“When people come in contact with our athletes or see our athletes perform, their perceptions change drastically,” McClenahan said. “The greatest thing we can do for those with intellectual disabilities is to change the hearts and minds of people without intellectual disabilities so that kids befriend them in school, employers realize their great value and hire them for jobs — those real life changing things.”

The Opening Ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will feature musical performances by Stevie Wonder, Avril Lavigne, Nicole Scherzinger, O.A.R. and Cody Simpson, while the Closing Ceremony will be headlined by Carly Rae Jepsen. Appearances are scheduled from Jimmy Kimmel, Michael Phelps, and Yao Ming, among others.

First Lady Michelle Obama is expected to be in attendance to help celebrate the commencement of the Games.

“We have a lot to really present that wow factor, something to set the tone of the games,” said Mark Poncher, executive producer of 5 Currents, an organization that has helped put on 12 Olympic ceremonies, including the Opening Games at the Sochi and London Olympics. “Most of the musical artists are performing original songs for the Games. But we also try to show that this is about the athletes and why we’re here. It’s all about bringing the athletes, coaches, volunteers — everyone in LA and everyone watching on ESPN a memorable show.”

The World Summer Games began in 1975 and remained in the U.S. until 1999. The Special Olympics, which also offers Winter Games, provides a rare form of camaraderie that gives athletes a safe haven to thrive and develop their personal identity.

“As an athlete, it’s such a fun environment at the Special Olympics,” said Kimberly Jasmine Guillen, a 16-year old Special Olympics Global Messenger who goes by the nickname “Kimpossible.” Guillen has won 69 medals, competing in bowling and track and field. “I thought I was joining a team, but instead I realized that I joined a family. Every athlete is like a brother or sister to me. Ever since I joined Special Olympics, I never want to give up on anything.”

With five different flights of competition and athletes ranging from ages eight to 60-plus, there’s never a shortage of inspiring moments.

“Some athletes have a hard time finishing the 100-yard dash yet their effort and determination is incredibly moving,” McClenahan said. “Others you wonder what their disability might be because they’re a world-class athlete.”

Tickets for the Opening Ceremony are available for purchase at LA2015.org via Ticketmaster. Fans can follow coverage on Twitter & Instagram @LA2015.

All 25 Special Olympics Sports at the Los Angeles World Games:

1. Aquatics
2. Athletics
3. Badminton
4. Basketball
5. Beach Volleyball
6. Bocce
7. Bowling
8. Cycling
9. Equestrian
10. Football (Soccer)
11. Golf
12. Gymnastics
13. Half Marathon
14. Handball
15. Judo
16. Kayaking
17. Open Water Swimming
18. Powerlifting
19. Roller Skating
20. Sailing
21. Softball
22. Table Tennis
23. Tennis
24. Triathlon
25. Volleyball

FAN FIESTA
At the East Side of the Sports Arena
Admission for Fan Fiesta is Free!

Tickets for the NABF Super Lightweight Title Fight
Are Available at Ticketmaster – On Sale Now!

The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena opened its doors to the public in 1959 to host its first event featuring the bantamweight boxing title match between Mexico’s Jose Becerra and France’s Alphonse Halimi.

Jose Becerra (born April 15, 1936 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) is a retired Mexican boxer who won the World Bantamweight Championship on July 8, 1959 in front of 15,110 spectators at the Sports Arena. In the eighth round Becerra delivered a left hook followed by a right that dropped bantamweight champion Halimi for the full count.

July 8, 2015 celebrates the Sports Arena’s 56 years of legendary entertainment and athletic competition. We take pleasure in remembering its first of many successful events with this action-packed and exciting profile on the World Bantamweight Champion, Jose Becerra, by Dan Cuoco:

JOSE BECERRA by Dan Cuoco

The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, which opened in 1959, has been a privileged part of the City’s athletic, community and pop history for almost six decades. Built as Los Angeles’ first convention center, it was opened by then Vice President of the United States Richard Nixon and a year later hosted the 1960 Democratic National Convention where John F. Kennedy was chosen by his party to run for the presidency. The next 56 years saw the likes of Cassius Clay knock out Archie Moore and the UCLA Bruins win their first championship under John Wooden. The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers (of the NBA), Kings (NHL), USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins (NCAA), Stars (ABA) and Sharks (WHL) all called the Arena home at various times and the building hosted the 1984 Summer Olympic boxing competition and two NCAA Final Four Championships. For years local residents enjoyed annual productions from Disney On Ice, Ringling Brothers Circus, WWF Wrestling and the Sunkist Invitational Track Meet. Whether it was AC/DC, U2, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Madonna, Green Day, Los Bukis, Vicente Fernandez, Daft Punk or Bruce Springsteen, rock ‘n roll and other styles practically blew the roof off of the place with electrifying and memorable performances.

But change and opportunity are inevitable in a day, an age, and an industry that must reinvent itself. The University of Southern California, managing the Sports Arena on behalf of the Coliseum Commission, has entered into negotiations with the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) to have LAFC build a modern, 22,000 seat, state-of-the-art soccer stadium on the Arena site, as the future home of a Major League Soccer franchise.

For more information regarding the LAFC plans for a future soccer stadium, please click on the following link:

Los Angeles Football Club Press Release

In light of the current negotiations, the Sports Arena is currently taking booking inquiries only through February 2016; as the process for developing the LAFC soccer stadium plays out, we will update this date accordingly.

 

January 16, 2015

Super Bowl I was played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 15, 1967. ESPN Films will present “Keepers of the Streak” premiering Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. This special one-hour documentary, directed by legendary sports photographer Neil Leifer, will chronicle the journey of veteran photographers John Biever, Walter Iooss, Mickey Palmer and Tony Tomsic, who have captured all Super Bowls for almost 50 years. Click Here to see a video clip. The documentary will re-air on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 12 p.m. ET on ABC.

Veteran photographers Tony Tomsic, Walter Iooss, Mickey Palmer and John Biever in the stands at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. ESPN Films and NFL Films will present “Keepers of the Streak” showcasing four photographers who have taken pictures at all 48 Super Bowl games.

For more info on these four Super Bowl photographers:
Sports Illustrated: Through The Lens: 4 photographers who have shot every Super Bowl.

Dear Friends,

This morning, I took this photo at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and reflected on the 1984 Olympic Games. Thirty years ago this evening Los Angeles opened the 1984 Olympic Games at the Coliseum – the only facility in the world to play host to two Olympiads (X and XXIII).

I thank all those who went before us, specifically Mayor Tom Bradley and the great City Council President John Ferraro, as they were true champions of the Olympic Games.

The 1984 Games truly brought 16 days of glory to our beautiful City!

Sincerely,

TOM LaBONGE
Councilmember, Fourth District
City of Los Angeles
July 28, 2014

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Los Angeles was the host city for the 1984 Summer Olympics, also known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, where 140 nations participated in the games from July 28 through August 12, 1984. The games were officially opened by President Ronald Reagan during the opening ceremonies at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.