Each football season, the melting pot which is the Beach Cities is evident when various food and drink establishments claim to be official meeting places for fans of the Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots and more.
But from July 21-14, E Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach will serve as meeting places for athletes and their supporters from around the globe joining four other South Bay cities as host towns prior to the Special Olympics World Games.
As many as 100 communities from San Luis Obispo to San Diego are serving as host towns to approximately 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches making the Word Games the single largest event hosted by Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics.
The contingencies will take in local flavor before moving into the Athlete Villages at USC and UCLA on July 24. The 25 Olympic-style competitions will take place July 25 – Aug. 2 at various venues throughout Southern California., Opening and Closing Ceremony will be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
El Segundo will host participants from Barbados, Uzbekistan and FYR Macedonia. Hermosa Beach hosts Belgium and Belize. Manhattan Beach hosts Hungary and Nepal and Redondo Beach will showcase its city to groups from Benin, Haiti and Suriname.
Other local host cities include Carson (Dominica, Palestine, Turkmenistan), Hawthorne (Estonia, Nigeria), Inglewood (Jamaica) and San Pedro (Croatia, Kazakhstan).
“The Host Town program gives each community an opportunity to showcase to the world what makes them special, but more importantly to provide citizens with a better understanding of intellectual disabilities that will lead to acceptance and inclusion for all,” said Patrick McClenahan, President and CEO of LA2015. “Long after the World Games are over, the memories of those three days spent in the Host Towns will leave a lasting legacy for Special Olympics Southern California and everyone who was touched by our athletes. We are thankful to all participating Host Towns and their tireless volunteers for opening their doors – and their hearts – to our athletes and coaches.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome 115 athletes from two countries into our little beach city,” said Pete Tucker, Mayor of Hermosa Beach. “Upon arrival, our delegates from Belgium and Belize will experience the unique surf, volleyball and bicycling beach-side culture that makes Hermosa Beach a gem along the Southern California coastline.”
“The Special Olympics World Games is the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world this year,” said Nanette Barragan, Mayor Pro Tem, Hermosa Beach. “It’s truly an honor for our community to open our doors and participate in this historic cultural and sports milestone along with hundreds of other Host Towns this summer.”
“Manhattan Beach is proud to be part of the Special Olympics World Games family,” said Manhattan Beach Mayor Wayne Powell. “We are thrilled to be hosting athletes from Hungary and Nepal during the three days leading up to the World Games. Our Host Town program is being driven by an energetic and dedicated group of local residents who have planned a memorable time during which the athletes can acclimate, train and interact with our residents during a variety of planned activities. Manhattan Beach residents look forward to meeting our special guests, learning more about them, and showing them our Manhattan Beach hospitality. We hope the legacy will be a better understanding of and more opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities.”
“As a twenty-year volunteer for Special Olympics Southern California, I am truly amazed at the quality of people that participate in this cause. From the organizers, to the sponsors and especially the athletes. I am proud that the citizens of Redondo Beach and the entire South Bay have proven that we can meet any challenge!” said Redondo Beach Mayor Steve Aspel. “I truly hope that our guests have a wonderful experience at these international Games and simply enjoy the competition and the camaraderie!”
The Host Town program has been an important element of Special Olympics World Games since 1995. The experience has left a lasting impression on the local communities in Ireland, Japan, China, Greece, South Korea and the United States, all of which have previously organized Host Town programs as part of the Special Olympics World Games.
Communities are evaluated on the availability of lodging accommodations, sports practice facilities and recreation/entertainment offerings for the athletes, among other criteria. Each Host Town committee is also responsible for planning activities for the athletes to introduce them to the community and help spread the word about the World Games.
Funding for each athlete is approximately $2,500 and covers food, medical care, entertainment and housing at the Athlete Villages. To donate or for information regarding volunteer opportunities, visit la2015.org.
