As World Summer Games Come to L.A. in 2015, Athletes Get Thrown in Spotlight “Off the Field” as Spokespersons for Special Olympics Southern California
Long Beach, Calif. – With the anxious excitement of 7,000 athletes from 170 countries and 500,000 spectators coming to Los Angeles in 2015 for the Special Olympics World Summer Games, Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) is preparing for the event as athletes take the spotlight off the field, training for more than sports.
SOSC has 16 athletes attending the second Athlete Leadership Program (ALPs) Global Messengers training in Long Beach at the Southern California headquarters office. Athletes will arrive on Sat. Jan. 28 at 9:00 am and continue training through Sunday the 29 until 12:00 pm.
As a Global Messenger, these athletes will learn tricks of the trade to represent the organization and its mission all around the Southern California area spreading the movement’s message, challenging the world to create harmonious communities full of acceptance and inclusion. The training will teach athletes how to become leaders and how to take on key leadership roles within their local programs. The athletes will also work alongside their own personal speech coach to create a speech while having facilitated practice sessions on how to deliver a speech with a microphone.
After graduation, these athlete Global Messengers will maintain their regular sports training and competition schedules, but will be writing speeches, giving presentations or taking part in board or sponsor meetings, addressing audiences including government officials, business executives and the general public. Again, the focus is to share their personal stories of triumph with Special Olympics and communicating the powerful declarations of hope, acceptance, dignity and courage of Special Olympics athletes around the world.
"Special Olympics breaks down barriers and acts as a catalyst for social change around the world," said Special Olympics Southern California’s ALP’s coordinator, Mindy Boyle. "Our Global Messengers are among our most powerful advocates as to what can be achieved through inclusion and acceptance and with the World Games coming; we look forward to them spreading the word of this awesome event around the corner."
The 2012 Class of SOSC Global Messengers are:
- Anthony Briones – Villa Park
- Kaylyn Brooks - Lancaster
- Michael Cobb – Pomona
- Cameron Crowe – San Luis Obispo
- Eric Galindo – Bakersfield
- Ross Gilliam – San Luis Obispo
- Josh Hoobery – San Luis Obispo
- Brett Laza – Phelan
- Robin Lincke – Lancaster
- Marco Martinez – Huntington Park
- Tim Munden – San Luis Obispo
- Lindsey Newman – Carlsbad
- Angelisa Romo – Chula Vista
- Tyson Strobel – Monrovia
- Marisa Watkins – Stevenson Ranch
Since the inception of the program in 1998, the Sargent Shriver International Global Messengers have proven to be the most effective spokespersons for the worldwide movement so SOSC expects no difference right here in Southern California. Special Olympics athletes who have participated in the program have achieved tremendous success with accomplishments including serving on the Special Olympics International Board of Directors, meeting with high-profile world leaders including U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton and former South Africa President Nelson Mandela, authoring books, and hosting international televised events.
About Special Olympics Southern California
Special Olympics Southern California has been changing lives through the power of sport for more than 40 years and offers opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and competition. Special Olympics Southern California appreciates the support of its year-round Mission Partners: KTLA, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Summit Entertainment, Toyota, and The Vons Foundation. For more information about how to compete, coach or contribute, visit www.sosc.org.
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For more information on attending the training to interview athletes at the Long Beach office (6730 E Carson St), contact Kelly Kloepping at 562.522.8554.