The international Special Olympics will return to Los Angeles for the 2015 World Summer Games and will be co-hosted by UCLA and USC, officials announced Sept. 14.
UCLA will accommodate 4,000 of the 7,000 athletes from about 170 countries in its residence halls, along with hosting five of the 22 Olympic sports competitions, according to a UCLA statement.
Though tentative, soccer will be held in Drake Stadium, volleyball in Pauley Pavilion, gymnastics in the John Wooden Center, power lifting in Ackerman Union and judo in the Student Activities Center.
Having successfully hosted the Special Olympics in 1972, Los Angeles beat out South Africa to host again in 2015.
Los Angeles offers a wide range of facilities and plentiful opportunities for media coverage, said Patrick McClenahan, chairman of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Southern California.
Other venues set to be used in Los Angeles include the Home Depot Center, Griffith Park and Long Beach Pier.
The international event is expected to draw large crowds of spectators and turn the spotlight on Los Angeles and UCLA, said Jack Raab, director of the UCLA Events Office.
“The event will be on the scope of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles,” Raab said.
UCLA students and staff can also volunteer to help at the event, said UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton.
Volunteers will run concession stands and help escort athletes around campus, he said.
“Hosting the Special Olympics is a wonderful opportunity for UCLA to showcase its leadership role throughout the world,” Hampton said.
As with all Special Olympics events, McClenahan said he hopes the 2015 Summer Games will foster an environment of acceptance and inclusiveness by allowing athletes with intellectual disabilities to perform on the world stage.