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As a host town for the Special Olympics World Games, Pasadena invites the public to welcome the athletes at a special celebration at City Hall on Wednesday July 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The city will officially welcome delegations of athletes and coaches from Namibia, Tanzania and Singapore as the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics arrives in Pasadena on its way to the Opening Ceremony on July 25.
The Final Leg of the torch will visit more than 122 cities in Southern California, traveling 4,648 miles. The Pasadena Police Department will join international Law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes, to run the “Flame of Hope” from Holly Street to the steps of City Hall.
Cristian Ellen, a Pasadena Police officer, will run the final leg for Pasadena. Pasadena Police Department is a long time supporter of the local Special Olympics chapter, hosting fundraisers throughout the year.
Festivities will include entertainment by local school athletes, dance teams, cheerleaders, jazz bands, drum corps, and ROTC. Joining Mayor Terry Tornek for the welcome will be representatives from various organizations including Kaiser Permanente and Waste Management.
The event will honor the courage, determination, and joy of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games athletes.
Pasadena Unified School District Special Education Department will provide a lunch for the visiting athletes.
Pie n’ Burger, the Lobos Truck and Rita’s Italian Ice will provide meals and snacks for purchase.
These delegations that will be welcomed by Pasadena will be among more than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries.
They will spend July 21-24 in and around Pasadena visiting our city’s landmarks, and preparing to compete at the World Games. The Host Town Pasadena committee is excited to provide food and housing so that these delegations can experience a ‘hometown’ experience while in Pasadena.
On their tour of Pasadena, the athletes will visit Kidspace, the Rose Bowl, Cal Tech, the Huntington Library, and much more.
The Games, taking place from July 25 to August 2, 2015, will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world this year and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games.
After the Torch Run festivities conclude, the delegations will take a private tour of the Rose Bowl Stadium. Later that evening, the Pasadena Police Department will provide a BBQ dinner at Kid Space and these delegates will interact with Kid Space Educators and our local Special Olympic Athletes, The Pasadena Ducks.
Tina Corona is the area Director for Pasadena Special Olympics, which includes athletes from Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, and Sierra Madre. Her athletes will be welcoming the delegates all week and attending the festivities at the athlete village at USC once the games begin.
“We’re going to take them in and around Pasadena, and show them all that Pasadena have to offer,” Corona said.
Southern California received 38 spots for athletes to compete in the Special Olympics, but none from Pasadena or the San Gabriel Valley were chosen.
“We just want people to know about Special Olympics,” Corona said.
For more information contact: Kathleen Turknette at kathleen.turknette@amwins.com
To support Host Town Pasadena: https://support.la2015.org/checkout/donation?eid=37873
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