Tag: Beyond Sports
What They’re Saying at 2018 Summer Games – Day 1
Summer Games always brings out a number of fearless athletes, selfless volunteers and great moments. Here's what the competitors, spectators, and more, had to say Saturday at Day 1 of the 2018 Special Olympics Southern California Summer Games at Cal State Long Beach. Athletes "[Special Olympics] changed my life in middle school." -Ben Watts, 24, ...
Final Leg Gets Things Started
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The 49th annual Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Summer Games will take place June 9-10 on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. The Opening Ceremony will begin on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. However, it will not start without the Flame of Hope, and its journey through roughly 900 ...
Team Ethan: Tough
Look up the word tough in the Merriam-Webster dictionary and there are nine definitions, several related to a person’s character. Two stand out, including “capable of enduring strain, hardship” and “characterized by uncompromising determination.” For those, an easier definition would be to list the name Ethan Russell with a photo featuring one of his trademark ...
Kaiser Permanente Southern California Becomes “Official Health Partner” for SOSC
PASADENA, Calif., April 25, 2018 — Kaiser Permanente Southern California has signed a three-year agreement as the “Official Health Partner” for Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC). In yesterday’s contract signing the two entities acknowledged their shared vision and commitment to diversity, inclusion and total health for individuals and communities. “There are many reasons why this ...
INSIDE SOSC: Volunteers Drive Regional Competitions
It was a fitting end to National Volunteer Week last weekend at regional competitions throughout Special Olympics Southern California. Volunteers came out in record numbers to support some of the longer running regional competitions, including the Pomona Valley Area Games at Boys Republic and the San Diego County Athletics Regional at Point Loma Nazarene University. ...
#SundaySpotlight: Angela Zhu
By Ashley Carney As April celebrates National Autism Awareness month, Special Olympics Southern California is reminded of the impact it has had on people with intellectual disabilities, and how it has allowed athletes to live their best lives. Meet Angela Zhu, a 17-year-old from Los Angeles, who has autism. Angela is one of the 70 ...
National Volunteer Week Spotlight: Partnerships in Pictures
Partners of Special Olympics Southern California are a big part of assisting our 34,500 #SOSCAthletes to play sports and thrive. There is so much more to it. Their employees rally together and go above and beyond to spread inclusion and acceptance. Their role as volunteers is a big part of our movement. For #VolunteerWeek, today's ...
National Volunteer Week Spotlight: Mike Zabarsky
By Sean Minnihan At any number of Special Olympics Southern California Area or Regional events, it wouldn’t be uncommon to see someone wearing one of our many hats, T-shirts, or sweatshirts you can purchase from the Rafer’s Boutique souvenir shop. But an SOSC T-shirt found 6,509 miles away in Auckland, New Zealand takes a little ...
INSIDE SOSC: What a Week It Was at SOSC
There was so much going on this first half of April within Special Olympics Southern California, we thought we would bring you up to speed. The first half of the month ended on Saturday with five competitions throughout Southern California, including the Los Angeles/San Gabriel Valley Regional Spring Games at Azusa Pacific University and Santa ...
Advocates for Inclusion at State Capitol
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Athletes and representatives from Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) and Special Olympics Northern California (SONC) converged on the California State Capitol Building to advocate as part of Special Olympics Hill Day on Wednesday, April 11. Special Olympics athletes and staff met with key assembly and senate representatives within the capitol to advocate ...