Thousands of Athletes to Compete in 2003 Summer Games

Long Beach Hosts Special Olympics Southern California's 34th Annual Event


MEDIA ADVISORY, June 5, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) --


 WHAT:     -- Special Olympics Southern California -- 34th Annual
              Summer Games

           -- Competitions in seven sporting categories: Aquatics,
              Athletics (Track & Field), Basketball, Bocce, Golf,
              Gymnastics and Tennis.
 
           -- SOSC Sports Expo Park -- public venue offering
              continuous live entertainment, dancing, sports demos,
              sports clinics, interactive games and food booths, free
              and open to the public

           -- These Games will introduce the 31 Athletes who will be
              representing Southern California as a part of Special
              Olympics TEAM USA at the 2003 World Summer Games held in
              Dublin, Ireland June 21-29

 WHO:      -- More than 1,500 Special Olympics athletes and their
              coaches from all over Southern California

           -- More than 2,000 volunteers

           -- Former Olympic Gold Medalist and SOSC Founder, Rafer
              Johnson

           -- Former NBA Great, CBS2 -- KCAL9 NBA Analyst, James
              Worthy

           -- Former Olympic Gold Medalist, Janet Evans

           -- Former Olympic Silver Medalist, Ann Meyers Dreysdale
 
 WHEN:     JUNE 6-8, 2003
 
           Friday, June 6
                   Opening Ceremony          7 p.m. - The Pyramid

           Saturday, June 7  
                   Athletic Competitions     8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
                   Sports Expo Park          10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

           Sunday, June 8
                   Athletic Competitions     8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
                   Sports Expo Park          10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
                   Closing Ceremony          2 p.m. - Sports Expo Park

 WHERE:      California State University Long Beach
            --------------------------------------
            -- 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach
            -- Exit at Bellflower from the 405 Freeway
            -- Please go to media booth at main entrance -- enter at
               Atherton Street
            -- Driving directions are available upon request

 MEDIA      Angela Calderon
 CONTACT:   Special Olympics
            (310) 215-8380 x127
            (310) 753-4433 cell