BRENTWOOD, Calif., May 21, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- 350 Special Olympics athletes will compete on Saturday, May 24 in the inaugural Los Angeles Regional Games at Brentwood School, hosted by the students of Brentwood School and Westside Special Olympics.
The athletes, from Long Beach, South Bay, Greater Los Angeles, Westside, Santa Clarita and Tri-Valley area programs, have been training regularly in their events, and will compete in track & field, golf and tennis.
"These athletes are dedicated to their training and are quite serious about doing their best in these games," said Andy Schwich, director, Los Angeles Region. "It's great to watch the athletes as they compete not only against each other, but also against themselves, constantly striving to set personal records."
These games are a part of the yearlong competition offered by Special Olympics. Athletes compete throughout Southern California in 23 sports on a local level, as well as regionally, across the Chapter in the summer and winter games and internationally during the World Games.
The students of Brentwood School, many of whom have been working for months to coordinate all aspects of the event, including fundraising, logistics, public relations and games management, will host the Los Angeles Regional Games.
Special Olympics Southern California serves over 11,000 children and adults with mental retardation in an eleven-county region of Southern California. The program offers sports training and competition in 23 individual and team sports on a year-round basis. Athletes range in age from eight to 80. SOSC is one of 52 accredited Special Olympics entities operating in the United States. For more information about Special Olympics Southern California, please visit its Web site at www.sosc.org.