LONG BEACH — It is #SendoffSaturday! The 66 Special Olympics Southern California athletes, or #TeamSOSC as they are known, took off from LAX today to compete in the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. Opening Ceremony is tomorrow from Seattle with competition beginning Monday. Families and friends wished the 66 #SOSCAthletes good luck and sent them off at a special dinner last night. They are ready!
USA GAME SENDOFF
Families and friends gathered at the Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport for a sendoff dinner. Athlete Krystal Johnson, who won bronze in volleyball at the inaugural USA Games in 2006, spoke to her teammates about the experience they were about to have. Watch:
Check out photos from the night, CLICK HERE.
ESPN COVERAGE
ESPN’s coverage of the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle will begin July 1 with a live two-and-a-half hour special on ABC capturing the inspiration, pageantry, performances and special guests of the USA Games Opening Ceremony. SOSC Athlete Angela Zhu of the Pomona Valley basketball team, will have a speaking role in the Opening Ceremony. In addition, Paul Lapre, pitcher for the Lakewood Dirtbag softball team, will be featured during the week’s coverage. A taste:
Kevin Negandhi will host ESPN’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony, and will anchor its nightly coverage throughout the Games. Monday, July 2 through Friday, July 6, Negandhi will host 2018 Special Olympics USA Games each night on ESPN2, bringing viewers the stories, competition showcase, interviews and more from Seattle each evening.
Additionally, throughout the week, ESPN3 will carry six and a half hours of LIVE streaming coverage from swimming competition taking place at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
For complete schedule, CLICK HERE.