[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13022]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               SPECIAL OLYMPIC WORLD GAMES IN LOS ANGELES

  (Ms. HAHN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the 2015 Special Olympic 
World Games and to pay tribute to all who are participating in this 
wonderful event happening right now in my hometown of Los Angeles.
  The opening ceremonies were held Saturday in the Memorial Coliseum. I 
was honored to attend as a member of the Presidential Delegation, led 
by our First Lady Michelle Obama.
  Over the next week, 6,500 athletes representing 165 countries will 
compete in 254 competitions, supported by 30,000 volunteers and an 
anticipated 500,000 spectators, making this the largest sports and 
humanitarian event anywhere in the world this year and the single 
biggest event in Los Angeles since we hosted the 1984 Olympic Games.
  This is much more than a sporting event. For almost 50 years, the 
Special Olympics has showcased the skills and accomplishments of people 
with intellectual disability and helped foster the acceptance and 
inclusion of all people.
  I congratulate and wish good luck to all of the participants in this 
2015 World Games.

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