TORONTO, June 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Special Olympics Team Canada is in the final stage of preparation for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California. The Games, taking place July 25 to August 2, 2015, will be the largest humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015 and will host roughly 7,000 athletes from countries all over the world. Comprised of 165 members, including athletes, mission staff and coaches, Team Canada is excited to showcase their skills on the world stage.
With roughly one month until the Games, Team Canada will be sent off to Los Angeles in style, with both a Toronto and Vancouver send-off celebration to wish them good luck on their World Games journey. Held at the Rogers Centre on June 17, 2015, the Toronto Team Canada send-off included remarks from Honorary Coach Mark Tewksbury and Chef de Mission Johnny Byrne, as well as Team Canada athlete and World Games veteran Catherine Partlow. The Vancouver Team Canada send-off celebration will take place on July 20, 2015 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel and will bring together all 164 members of Team Canada before they embark for an experience of a lifetime at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Olympic medallist and Director at TELUS Communications, Steve Podborski, will be among the speakers, representing Special Olympics Team Canada sponsor TELUS.
Team Canada is fortunate to have passionate and supportive partners to help raise awareness and grow the Special Olympics Movement. Team Canada will be noticed on and off the field of play at LA 2015 as distinctly Canadian, thanks to proud uniform sponsor Tim Hortons. Additionally, fans and family members at home will be able to tune in to coverage of the Games thanks to long-time Special Olympics Canada partner TSN. In addition to airing the Opening Ceremonies live on TSN2 at 9 p.m. EST on July 25, and through nightly recap programs during the Games, TSN will also re-air the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games broadcast, featuring several members of Team Canada, on TSN and TSN2 July 23-25.
To follow Team Canada at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games on Twitter and Facebook, please use the @SpecialOCanada handle and the official hashtag for Team Canada at the Games, #SOTeamCanada15.
About Special Olympics Canada
Established in 1969, the Canadian chapter of this international movement is dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport. Operating year-round in all Canadian provinces and territories except Nunavut, this grassroots movement reaches beyond the sphere of sport to empower individuals, change attitudes, and build communities. From two-year olds to mature adults, there are more than 38,000 children and adults with an intellectual disability registered in Special Olympics programs across Canada. They are supported by more than 17,000 volunteers, including close to 13,000 trained coaches.
For further information: Visit www.specialolympics.ca or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@SpecialOCanada).
About the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games
With 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games - being staged in Los Angeles July 25 - August 2, 2015 - will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. The 2015 Special Olympics World Games, with the unparalleled spirit, enthusiasm, teamwork, joy and displays of courage and skill that are hallmarks of all Special Olympics events, will feature 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. The Opening Ceremony, to be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. On April 30, 2014, LA2015 and ESPN announced a global programming deal that will see ESPN bring coverage of World Games to millions of fans around the world. Honorary Chairs of the Games are President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Jerry Brown serving as Honorary Hosts. Current Founding Champions and sponsors include The Coca-Cola Company, Mattel, Deloitte, Toyota, Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, Davis Elen Advertising, AEG, David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw, The Walt Disney Company, and Knights of Columbus. LA2015, the Games Organizing Committee, is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=34090
