October 25, 2018 – LONG BEACH, Calif. — Special Olympics USA is proud to announce that it will send a 314-member delegation to represent the United States at the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, being held March 14-21, 2019, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Special Olympics USA, is comprised of 217 athletes, 63 coaches and approximately 34 delegation members who support team operations. Team members will compete in 17 of the 24 sports offered: athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, cycling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics – artistic, gymnastics—rhythmic, powerlifting, sailing, soccer, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, and volleyball.
Six of athletes will represent Special Olympics Southern California in four sports: Faith Demos (golf), Tyrone Garrett and Sarah Kovacs (track and field), Mark Hanson and Krystal Johnson (tennis), and Jonathan Pierce (swimming).
The delegation also includes Special Olympics Unified Sports® teams, where people with and without intellectual disabilities compete together, as teammates. These will be the most inclusive Games to date. Special Olympics USA will have representation in the following Unified Sports: basketball, bocce, golf, sailing, soccer, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball.
To learn more about the delegation, please visit www.specialolympicsusa.org for a full team listing, photos and bios.
Special Olympics USA is the national team that represents the United States at the Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games. Team members compete in an array of the 32 official Special Olympics summer and winter sports, in individual and team formats.
Every two years, the world transcends the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture and religion to come together for the Special Olympics World Games. Alternating between summer and winter Games, this event is the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement, which promotes inclusion, equality, and acceptance around the world.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these athletes to demonstrate their athletic abilities, competing at the highest level on the world stage, and to have life and cultural experiences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” said Chris Hahn, Head of Delegation for Special Olympics USA. “I encourage every American to cheer on these inspiring athletes, to share in their triumphs and to take pride in knowing that they will represent our country with excellence and honor.”
This is expected to be the largest Special Olympics World Games in history. An estimated 7,500 athletes from 176 nations will compete in 24 Olympic-type sports at the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019: athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bocce, bowling, cycling, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics – artistic, gymnastics—rhythmic, handball, judo, kayaking, open water swimming, powerlifting, roller skating, sailing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, and volleyball.
ESPN’s global television networks and digital media will bring extensive coverage to sports fans and supporters of the Special Olympics movement around the world. As the official broadcast partner of Special Olympics, ESPN’s television coverage will be carried across its networks in the U.S. as well as streamed through WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
Bank of America is the Premier Sponsor of Special Olympics USA. Champion is the Official Supplier and Supporter of Special Olympics USA. MTM is Recognition Partner of Special Olympics USA.
To follow Special Olympics USA, visit www.specialolympicsusa.org, and follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/specialolympicsusa,Twitter: @specialolyUSA, and Instagram: @specialolympicsusa. Hash Tag: #Cheer4USA
For more information about the Special Olympics Southern California delegates, please contact Brian Szczerbinski at brian@sosc.org.
About the 2019 Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi (AD2019)
Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi will be the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world in 2019. From March 14 to 21, 7,500 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing more than 176 nations will participate in 24 officially sanctioned Olympic-style sports in venues throughout Abu Dhabi. The first ever Special Olympics World Games to be held in the Middle East and North Africa will also be the most unified Games in the 50-year history of the Special Olympics movement, with inclusion of people of determination with intellectual disabilities in every aspect of the event. Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 is an integral part of local, national and regional plans to expand opportunities for people of determination in line with Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s shared vision of a unified and inclusive society. For more information on Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit abuDhabi2019.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC)
SOSC enriches the lives of 37,100 athletes and their communities through sports, leadership programs, and athlete health. Our free, year-round programs lead to improved health, self-confidence, and independence among athletes with intellectual disabilities and acceptance and inclusion in the community. Learn more at www.sosc.org.
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