On Saturday 25 July 2015, First Lady Michelle Obama inaugurated the 2015 Special Olympic World Summer Games at an Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles, featuring performances from Stevie Wonder, Avril Lavigne and Nicole Scherzinger.
Last month the US Embassy of Luxembourg dedicated a special send-off to the Luxembourgish team, with speeches given by Chargé d'Affaires Alison Shorter-Lawrence; Chair of Special Olympics Pascale Schmoetten; and National Director of Special Olympics Luxembourg, Mark Feltgen to herald the 40 athletes and 17 coaches of the Luxembourg team who departed to the USA last week.
The Luxembourg team were hosted by the Californian city of Big Bear Lake and on Saturday made their way out of the Host Town on three tour buses escorted by the Big Bear Sheriff Station and Big Bear Fire Department to the Opening Ceremony, which took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena on Saturday.
The Ceremony reportedly welcomed around 6,500 athletes from 165 countries, with Michelle Obama speaking of how proud she and the President were of all the participants, as well as the event itself which originated from an idea developed by President Kennedy's sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, in the 1950s. The 2015 summer Ceremony featured celebrity hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel, as well as stars of the sporting world such as Olympic gold medalists swimmer Michael Phelps, ice-skater Michelle Kwan and diver Greg Louganis, who carried the Special Olympics flag together. The Ceremony also included multiple musical performances from the likes of O.A.R. and Cody Simpson, as well as the 'Reach Up LA' theme song specially created by Siedah Garrett for the event.
Over the course of 9 days, 25 Olympic events will take place in 27 venues, exhibiting the sporting talents of over 170 countries. Luxembourg's athletes, some of whom are as young as fifteen years old, will be competing in the following sports: aquatics (4); athletics (6); basketball (10); bocce (2); football (10); artistic gymnastics (2); half-marathon (2); table tennis (2); and tennis (2). Thus far members of the team have participated in athletics, football and basketball.
Photos by Special Olympics Luxembourg
