Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
“I am touched to be a part of this celebration of determination, courage, joy and skill. Throughout my own journey of overcoming the odds, it’s truly an inspiring moment to join these incredible athletes as they come to Los Angeles to compete and accomplish so many victories,” so says Stevie Wonder who will headline the Opening Ceremonies at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games on July 25th in Southern California.
Stevie Wonder will share the stage at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (site of the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics) with Avril Lavigne, Nicole Scherzinger, O.A.R., Cody Simpson, J Balvin, Becky G, Siedah Garrett, Jimmy Kimmel, Eva Longoria, Lauren Potter, Michael Phelps, Yao Ming, Greg Louganis, and Stephanie McMahon.
Nearly 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 170 countries will participate in the Opening Ceremony with more than 60,000 fans including Royalty, Heads of State and Government, and other distinguished VIPs will cheer on the athletes inside the Coliseum, while a television audience will watch ESPN’s coverage of the World Games.
For more information, visit www.LA2015.org.
The Special Olympics World Summer Games open water swim will be a 1.5 km flat loop course on July 30th in Alamitos Bay in Long Beach. 87 athletes will also participate in POW (Pool Open Water) exhibitions at U.S.C. under the leadership of Anne McLindon.
Many family members will accompany the athletes. Among the swimmers, Conrad Ackerman (U.S.A.) is coming with 30 family members, Kyle Mesorvey (U.S.A.) is coming with 27, John Paul Sean Coleman (Ireland) is coming with 19, Julia Longo (Canada) is coming with 15, Ricardo Aponte (Puerto Rico) is coming with 12, Kanza Bodden (Cayman Islands) is coming with 11, Deron Forbes (Bahamas) is coming with 10, Gary McEnroe (Ireland) is coming with 10, and Teresita Santander (Mexico) is coming with 10 (to participate in the open water and triathlon).
Photo shows the 2007 Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremonies in Shanghai, China.
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association