Los Angeles welcomes 75 BC athletes, coaches and staff for 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Los Angeles welcomed 75 BC athletes, coaches and mission staff this week in the lead-up to the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Kicking off July 25, the British Columbia contingent makes up 46% of Team Canada, including 57 athletes, 16 coaches and 2 mission staff across 10 sports.

BC athletes will also make up the entire roster for Canada’s basketball, bocce, soccer and softball teams, following their qualification at the Special Olympics Canada 2014 Summer Games held here in Vancouver.

“The bigger picture is that persons with an intellectual disability, wherever they are, have the right to pursue excellence, just like anybody else,” says Dan Howe, Special Olympics BC President and CEO. “They have the right to dream big, just like anybody else. And they have the right to push past their limits, to compete and excel, to experience the joy of teamwork, the passion of sport, to leave it all on the field, just like anybody else. We are so proud that a large contingent of Team Canada is made up of athletes from BC.  That speaks to the hard work these athletes put into their training, and how hard their coaches worked to prepare them for the competition.”

viaSport would like to congratulate the entire BC team on this great accomplishment and wish Team Canada the best of luck on the world stage!

Join us in cheering them on by using the hashtag #SOTeamCanada15 and tagging @LA15.
 

BC ATHLETES AT THE 2015 SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD SUMMER GAMES: