JULY 27 (Reuters) — Thousands of fans watched 6,500 athletes from 165 nations march into the Los Angeles Coliseum for the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics World Games Saturday (July 25) night.
The gathering was the largest for a single event in Los Angeles, surpassing the 1984 Olympic Games.
The athletes paraded in before the lighting of the Special Olympics cauldron. U.S. athlete Destiny Sanchez carried the torch over the final distance and then performed the ceremony to light the cauldron.
First Lady Michelle Obama also attended to help officially open the Games.
The athletes are scheduled to participate in 25 different sports over the next nine days.