Arcadia to host World Games Special Olympians 2015

The City of Arcadia and The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce announced this week that the community has been officially selected to participate in the Special Olympics World Games “Host Town” program from July 21 – 24, 2015. The Special Olympics World Games begin on July 25, 2015, and ill feature more than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries.

Special Olympics athlete Kim “Possible” Guillen. All photos by Glenn Oyoung.

As a Host Town, Arcadia will display the best of Southern California to World Games athletes and coaches, showcasing everything from the Santa Anita Park horse race track and San Gabriel Valley’s most distinctive Westfield Santa Anita mall, to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and even one of the City Recreation and Community Services’s weekly outdoor summer concerts on the lawn at City Hall.

Facing estimated expenses of $50,000, the Arcadia Rotary Foundation donated a check for $10,000 from President Yvonne Flint during the announcement ceremony at City Council Chambers Wednesday, May 28. And Arcadia Chamber member hotels, Embassy Suites Arcadia, Hilton Garden Inn, and Santa Anita Inn, have agreed to be Host Town lodging partners, providing a combined 50 rooms and 150 overnight stays at greatly discounted prices and 300 free breakfasts for 100 athletes and coaches, a savings of $20,000 off the budget for the Host Town Committee fundraising effort.

(Click here to see extensive coverage of announcement by local media.)

Host Town Committee chairman Bruce McCallum.

The City of Arcadia will provide security, has offered to help find solutions to transportation needs, and is coordinating with the Arcadia School District to offer practice and training facilities.

“This is an honor for Arcadia, and the community is proud to help celebrate and support such inspiring athletes in this global event,” said Mayor John Wuo. “Arcadia Chamber business members are pleased to unite in support of this terrific showcase of the world’s biggest Special Olympics event and the biggest sporting event of any kind in 2015,” added Denise Weaver, president of the Arcadia Chamber.

Arcadia Chamber CEO Scott Hettrick said that Embassy Suites Arcadia General Manager Luis Plascencia, Hilton Garden Inn General Manager Esequiel Munoz, and Santa Anita Inn General Manager James Tseng and owner Andrew Chang, each stepped up immediately when contacted by the Chamber about providing assistance for three nights of housing for 100 athletes and coaches from another country to be named soon. Each is offering 15-20 rooms at a steeply discounted rate despite the late July time period being the busiest time of year for hotels. And each is offering three free breakfasts for each of their guests. Chang said Santa Anita Inn, which is also offering free WiFi, is already planning a special welcome reception.

R-to-L: Chamber CEO Scott Hettrick & President Denise Weaver with hotel partners from Embassy Suites Arcadia, Hilton Garden Inn Arcadia, and Santa Anita Inn.

“It’s inspiring to see how quickly our members embraced this effort, as they do most all community programs and the Chamber in general,” Hettrick said. Mayor Wuo expressed gratitude to the hotels several times during his announcement of the Host Town program in front of nearly 80 people.

The announcement fittingly came in the building showcasing the large plaque memorializing Arcadia’s hosting of the 1984 Olympics equestrian events at Santa Anita Park. Special Olympics runner Kim Guillen, 15, of West Covina, was the Global Messenger who opened the announcement ceremony. “Today, Arcadia, you become part of my Special Olympics family. You will host members of my family from all other parts of the world; I’m so eager to meet them.”

R-to-L: Mayor John Wuo, Kim Guillen, and Dick Van Kirk.

Other speakers at the Host Town announcement included Special Olympics Southern California President Emeritus Richard L. Van Kirk, who is a board member for LA 2015. He received a proclamation and a key to the City from Mayor Wuo. Van Kirk recruited fellow Arcadia resident and former Rotary Club of Arcadia President Bruce McCallum to organize the Arcadia Host Town committee. McCallum introduced the entire Host Town volunteer committee and then Flint to make the presentation of the $10,000 donation. Also speaking were Chamber Presdent Denise Weaver of Weaver & Associates Insurance; Arcadia Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Joel Shawn and School Board President Cung Nguyen; and Kentucky Derby jockey and Arcadia resident Aaron Gryder, who said, “We’re all very excited they’ll have a chance to see and experience what the Great Race Place is all about… when they come out next summer.”

Viola Van from the office of Congresswoman Judy Chu and Olivia Lee from the office of Assembly Member Ed Chau presented certificates of recognition to Van Kirk.

(Click here to see gallery of three dozen photos from announcement.)

L-to-R: Jockey Aaron Gryder, Chamber President Denise Weaver, CEO Scott Hettrick.

The Host Town program has been an important element of Special Olympics World Games since 1995, and the experience has left a lasting impression on the local communities in Ireland, Japan, China, Greece, South Korea and the United States, all of which have previously organized Host Town programs as part of the Special Olympics World Games.

“The Host Town program is an exciting way for Southern California locals to open our doors and show the athletes and coaches from around the world our hospitality and our culture,” said Patrick McClenahan, president and chief executive officer of LA2015, the Games Organizing Committee. “This is an important part of the World Games experience and a truly meaningful way for different communities to be part of the Games and create lasting memories for our visiting athletes.”

Police chief Robert Guthrie, Council Member Sho Tay, School Board President Cung Nguyen and Superintendent Dr. Joel Shawn join in flag unveiling.

Potential Host Town communities are evaluated on the availability of lodging accommodations, sports practice facilities and recreation/entertainment offerings for the athletes, among other criteria. Host Towns are also responsible for planning activities for the athletes to introduce them to the community and help spread the word about the Games.

About the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games

With 7,000 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 – being staged in Los Angeles July 25 – August 2, 2015 – 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, with the unparalleled spirit, enthusiasm, teamwork, joy and displays of courage and skill that are hallmarks of all Special Olympics events, will feature 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. The Opening Ceremony, to be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. Honorary Chairs of the Games are President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Jerry Brown serving as Honorary Hosts. Current Founding Champions and sponsors include AEG, Kaiser Permanente, Mattel, David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw, the Coca-Cola Company, The Walt Disney Company, Deloitte and Davis Elen Advertising. LA2015, the Games Organizing Committee, is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

About Special Olympics International

Special Olympics is an international organization that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports everyday around the world. Through work in sports, health, education and community building, Special Olympics is addressing inactivity, injustice, intolerance and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities which leads to a more welcoming and inclusive society. We promote acceptance for all, and foster communities of understanding and respect. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than four million athletes in 170 countries. Special Olympics events take place every day in community playgrounds and ball fields. With the support of more than one million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics is able to deliver 32 Olympic-type sports and more than 70,000 competitions throughout the year.