First lady Michelle Obama will attend the opening ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles on July 25, Special Olympics organizers announced today.
Performers at the LA2015 Opening Ceremony include Stevie Wonder, Avril Lavigne, Nicole Scherzinger, O.A.R., Cody Simpson (featuring Special Olympics athlete Breanna Bogucki and YouTube sensation Madison Tevlin), J Balvin & Becky G, and Reach Up LA theme song creator Siedah Garrett, according to a Special Olympics statement.
Also scheduled to take part in the opening festivities are Jimmy Kimmel, Eva Longoria, Michael Phelps, Yao Ming, Greg Louganis, Stephanie McMahon and Lauren Potter, among others.
“The first lady’s attendance complemented by the diversity of these talented performers will make the opening ceremony an extraordinary moment for Los Angeles and for the Special Olympics movement,” said LA2015 President and CEO Patrick McClenahan.
With nearly 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, more than 500,000 spectators are expected to attend the World Games from July 25 to August 2. Competition events are free and open to the public, and tickets for the Opening Ceremony are now available for purchase at LA2015.org via Ticketmaster.
The first lady serves as an honorary co-chair of the World Games along with President Barack Obama. Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, said her “vision of wellness, fitness and inclusion of all in sport is at the heart of Special Olympics.”
