Special Olympics Athletes Get Ready For World Games That Begin In LA This Weekend
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Thousands of athletes are getting ready to compete starting Saturday in the Special Olympics World Games.
Organizers are making a final push to draw fans into the arenas where the athletes will compete.
The opening ceremonies will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
For details on how to get discounted tickets, check out CBSLA.com and click "Seen On TV."
No tickets are required as fans can attend any of the competitions for free; however, some will have parking fees.
Headliners at the ceremony include Stevie Wonder, Avril Lavigne, O.A.R., Cody Simpson, Nicole Scherzinger, J Balvin & Becky G, Cassadee Pope and Siedah Garrett.
Special appearances will be made by first lady Michelle Obama, comedian Jimmy Kimmel, actress Eva Longoria, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Olympic diver Greg Louganis and basketball star Yao Ming.
This year will be the 14th Special Olympics World Games, and 165 nations will send athletes to compete in Los Angeles.
"In my dream of dreams, we would fill every seat. That's about 500,000 spectators," said Stephanie Medina, vice president of World Games community relations.
"If you give an athlete 10 minutes of your time, he'll give you his heart," she added.
There will be 27 locations and over 7,000 athletes in this year's games.
The sports being played at the Special Olympics World Games are aquatics, badminton, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, bocce ball, bowling, cycling, equestrian, soccer, golf, gymnastics, half marathon, handball, judo, kayaking, open water swimming, power-lifting, roller skating, sailing, softball, table tennis and triathlon.
