Highlights from the 2015 Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremony
More than sixty thousand fans packed into Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Saturday night to celebrate the 6,500 athletes who have arrived to share with the world their ability, bravery, and joy. Here, we recap a few highlights from the evening.
Athletes from 165 countries are competing in the World Games and represent all corners of the globe. Leading the parade was Special Olympics Hellas (Greece), host of the 2011 Special Olympics World Games.
The delegation from Korea entered the stadium, with 133 members. Korea hosted the most recent 2013 Special Olympics World Games held in PyeongChang.
The sixteen-member delegation from Senegal entered the Coliseum, joined by Special Olympics International Board Member Maria Shriver.
Athletes from the Democratic Republic of Congo entered the Coliseum with former Professional Basketball Player and Special Olympics International Board Member Dikembe Mutombo
Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International, and twelve International Global Messengers welcomed the athletes to the Special Olympics World Games 2015 Los Angeles.
NBA basketball player Damian Lillard and Special Olympics World Games Ambassador Lauren Potter greeted the crowd.
The Special Olympics Flag was carried into the Coliseum by Special Olympics Athletes Nikia Davenport, Oliver Doherty, Xing Le and Flora Vermisoglu along with Olympic Athletes Nadia Comaneci, Michelle Kwan, Greg Louganis and Michael Phelps.
Professional Football Player Jamaal Charles spoke to the Special Olympics Athletes about courage and leads the Athlete’s Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
Boxer Oscar De La Hoya and Special Olympics Global Messenger Yoona Kim introduced musician Stevie Wonder.
Grammy-award winning musician Stevie Wonder performed his song “Fear Can’t Put My Dreams to Sleep” for the athletes.
Special Olympics Global Messenger and restaurant owner Tim Harris introduced First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, who declared, “Let the Games begin!”
The Special Olympics Torch enters the Coliseum, led by Special Olympics Athletes Solomon Jegede, Pradip Adhikari, Davaa Magvansuren, Horeih Golchin, Eliyahu Somer, Darianny Urtado and Destiny Sanchez. Destiny was assisted in lighting the torch by Olympic Gold Medalist Rafer Johnson.
The Special Olympics Torch lights up the Coliseum.
