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The Olympic cauldron atop the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, home of the 1932 and 1984 Summer Games, will burn all week for the Special Olympics World Games. Saturday night's opening ceremonies were completely moving: 6,500 athletes and 2,000 coaches from 165 nations, including Syria, Iraq, Iran, Cuba and Palestine. It's said to be the largest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics and the largest humanitarian event in the world this year.
Here's a short clip of the bedlam when the U.S. delegation entered the Coliseum.
Amazing scene at LA Coliseum as @SpecialOlympics USA brings house down.
USA! USA! USA! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ktFCjw6KuS
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 26, 2015Tim and Maria Shriver reminded the crowd that this all began with their mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, in 1968. Rafer Johnson, who was there at the beginning — and who lit the cauldron at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles — accompanied the final torch bearer who lit the cauldron on Saturday. First Lady Michelle Obama and Mayor Eric Garcetti addressed the crowd and Stevie Wonder and Avril Lavigne (and others) performed. Olympians Michael Phelps, Michelle Kwan and Nadia Comaneci served as flag bearers.
Competition began today with the awarding of several medals. Events go on all week at UCLA, USC and other venues in town. I believe they are all free — just go.
Longer clip of the U.S. team entering the Coliseum from LA Kids TV.
