4 cities to play host to Special Olympics teams
Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine and Huntington Beach are among 100 Southern California cities that will be host towns for this year’s Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
From July 21 to 24, the cities will organize cultural activities unique to their areas, as well as provide practice and rest areas for athletes. After the three-day program, the athletes move into villages at USC and UCLA.
The Special Olympics July and August will bring 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches from 177 countries to the Southland for competition.
“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,” Patrick McClenahan, president and CEO of this year’s games, said in a statement. “Long after the World Games are over, the memories of those three days spent at [a] host town will leave a lasting legacy for Special Olympics Southern California and everyone who was touched by our athletes.”
Newport Beach will host athletes from Mexico and Fiji; Costa Mesa, from Aruba, the Bahamas and Malawi; Irvine, from Korea; Huntington Beach from Australia; and Fountain Valley from the Netherlands.
“The host town program is an exciting way for Southern California locals and Costa Mesa residents to open our doors and show the athletes and coaches from around the world our hospitality and our culture,” Costa Mesa Mayor Steve Mensinger said in a statement. “This is an important part of the World Games experience and a truly meaningful way for different communities to be part of the games and create lasting memories for our visiting athletes.”
Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley are hosting a golf tournament fundraiser at the Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano on Tuesday.
Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar is partnering with Irvine-based nonprofit Team Kids for fundraising efforts. On March 16, special Olympian Joseph Gorin, who has competed in floor hockey, softball, basketball, volleyball, bowling, track and field and golf, is visiting the campus as well.
—Staff writers Anthony Clark Carpio and Nicole Shine contributed to this report
