During my visit to the beautiful PyeongChang for the Special Olympics Winter Games, I realized what a big job we have ahead of us as the host city for 2015 World Summer Games. The people of Korea went all-out to stage a fantastic event, and we're looking forward to doing the same in Los Angeles in 2015.
I was honored to once again meet the prime minister of Korea, The Honorable Kim Hwang-Sik, and in conjunction with the Special Olympics Global Development Summit, to participate in panel discussions and hear firsthand the impressive work Special Olympics is doing to improve the quality of life, as well as respect and dignity, for people with intellectual disabilities.
The Special Olympics is all about inclusion and acceptance, and these qualities are in Los Angeles' DNA. As one of the most diverse cities in the world, Los Angeles is a natural for hosting the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2015, and the City is excited for this prospect. During a reception for the games, I was pleased to see such a large number of people anxious to help bringing the Special Olympics World Summer Games to life in Los Angeles.
After meeting with Na Kyung Won, chairperson of the 2013 World Winter Games and the mother of a daughter with intellectual disabilities, Tim Shriver, CEO of Special Olympics International, our Los Angeles World Games officials and a number of the talented Special Olympics athletes like my friend and LA native Dustin Plunkett, I am more convinced than ever that Los Angeles will put on a great show for the world in 2015.
This post is part of a series produced by The Huffington Post and The Special Olympics, in recognition of the PyeongChang 2013 World Winter Games in South Korea this week. To see all the posts in the series, click here.