SportsLife 2015, issue 3 | Page 35

Manitoba’s Special Olympians at World Games in L.A. By Scott Taylor, Photos by James Carey Lauder It’s not about the medals, it’s about the experience, the ability to compete and fall in love with sport. It’s about making friends and learning the game. The Special Olympics is sport in its purest form. Manitoba’s best Special Olympians are currently in Los Angeles for the biggest event on the planet. In fact, with 6,500 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 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 Opening Ceremonies were held on Saturday, July 25, and if you pay attention, you just might see some of the folks on this page participating in an event that will never be forgotten. l sportslife / 35