For Immediate Release
May 15, 2014
Media Contact:
Thomas R. Lorenz, Public Information Officer
Tamar Hadjimanoukian, Community Outreach Assistant
Glendale to Participate as Host City for 2015 Special Olympics World Games
Glendale, CA - On Tuesday, May 13, the Glendale City Council unanimously voted for the City of Glendale to participate as a designated 2015 Special Olympics World Games Host Town, and sponsor a delegation of athletes for the Special Olympics World Games hosted by the City of Los Angeles in 2015. As a Host Town, Glendale will be responsible for the lodging, food and activities of 100 athletes (typically one or two delegations) for the three days prior to the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics. Delegations would arrive in Glendale on July 21, 2015 and depart on July 24, 2015. In addition to resting and practicing for the Olympic World Games, during the three days, athletes will be welcomed as part of the Glendale community.
The 2015 Special Olympics will be the largest humanitarian and athletic event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics. With 7,000 athletes, 30,000 coaches and an estimated 500,000 spectators, this monumental event will showcase athletic ability and determination, as well as acceptance and inclusion. This event, which will feature 25 Olympic-style sports at 27 venues in Los Angeles, will hold the opening ceremonies at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the Athlete Villages at USC and UCLA. Cities from Long Beach to San Diego, including Burbank, Calabasas and Pasadena are expected to host delegations. Participating as a Host Town will make Glendale a part of this global program.
Olympic Game organizers have estimated the cost for the athletes' lodging, food and activities to be approximately $50,000. This figure is frequently supplemented by in-kind donations, sponsorships and fundraisers by community groups and community members at large. Based on experience with previous games, Host Town program organizers indicate that over the next year, donations and sponsorships for the athletic delegation's lodging, food and activities would be easily secured to offset this amount to a nominal cost, if not completely cover the full amount. To learn more or to make donations, please contact Dan Bell at 818-548-4424 or dbell@glendaleca.gov.
To read the staff report, please click here.
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Glendale, known as the “Jewel City,” is one of the largest cities in Los Angeles County. With a population over 190,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers limitless opportunities. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail and banking.
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