• Lindsay Czarniak and Kevin Neghandhi host coverage at 7 p.m. ET
• ESPN.com coverage continues with powerful features
• ESPN Images capturing the action of the World Games

ESPN’s global coverage of 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, the largest sporting and humanitarian event in 2015, began with live coverage of the Games’ star-studded Opening Ceremony on Saturday, July 24.

Each night throughout the Games, ESPN’s Lindsay Czarniak and Kevin Neghandhi will host, Special Olympics World Games LA 2015, being produced from ESPN’s downtown Los Angeles Production Center.  The show includes interviews with athletes and special guests, as well as a daily “competition showcase” segment that will feature play-by-play calls from the day’s action by ESPN’s Jason Benetti and reporting from Paralympic gold medal swimmer Victoria Arlen.  In addition, ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap and Marty Smith, as well as Special Olympics Global Messenger Dustin Plunkett will contribute to ESPN’s coverage.

Friday (July 31) and Saturday’s (Aug 1) editions of Special Olympics World Games LA 2015 will be one hour long.

On Thursday night’s show:

• UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL – Patrick Yermen is from the Big Sky country of Lewiston, Montana and has been legally blind since he was six. So, naturally, he became a cyclist. Now he is representing his country at the World Games and hoping to bring home gold. Marty Smith introduces viewers to this remarkable cycist.
• ALL IN THE FAMILIES: Behind the athletes competing at the World Games, are families that have imbued them with belief and provided them with support. Jeremy Schaap meets some of the families and shares their stories with viewers.
• COMPETITION SHOWCASE: Jason Benetti and Victoria Arlen provide coverage highlights from Track and Field competitions

ICYMI:  For those that missed this week’s Special Olympics World Games LA 2015, highlights included:

• HOOP LIFE: Abel Mehari has found joy, health and friendship through basketball, as he explains to ESPN’s Marty Smith who introduces viewers to the Minnesota athlete. HERE
• THE PIN IS MIGHTY: Special Olympics global ambassador Dustin Plunkett explains the pin-trading that goes on at the Special Olympics World Games. HERE
• ESPN SPORT SCIENCE – JACKIE BARRETT: The team at Sport Science examines the strength of Canadian power lifter Jackie Barrett, who squats more than 500 pounds and deadlifts nearly 600. HERE
• MILES FROM MONGOLIA: Marty Smith tells the story of Daava Magvansuren, a track and field athlete whose road to Los Angeles began in a small village in Mongolia. HERE

ESPN DIGITAL FEATURES & COVERAGE

ESPN.com’s extensive coverage of the Special Olympics World Games, continues with news and feature stories examining the people and topics of the Special Olympics World Games, the wider movement, exclusive athlete blogs, photo galleries and an extensive lineup of video features.

Among the highlighted coverage, is:

• OUTRUNNING AUTISM…AND CANCER: Olivia Quigley was training for the World Games when she was diagnosed with cancer. Like previous battles, the runner just won’t quit. HERE
• MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER: In equestrian at the Special Olympics World Games, where all athletes work with unfamiliar horses, the real challenge is finding a natural bond. HERE
• TEAM FIRST: While many of his achievements have been solo, accomplished kayaker Stephen Dodd, from Great Britain, has become a team player at the Special Olympics World Games. ESPN The Magazine’s Alyssa Roenigk tells the story HERE

PHOTOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

ESPN Images and ESPN Digital Media photographers are capturing photos from around the Special Olympics World Games throughout the week, including these:

The full collection of ESPN Images photos from the event, available for use in editorial coverage, can be found here: http://bit.ly/1TZgIuh

COVERAGE SCHEDULE

** NOTE:  the Aug. 1 program on ABC will air at 4 p.m. ET except on the west coast, where it will begin at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)

ESPN and The Special Olympics
Disney and ESPN have long supported Special Olympics.

ESPN is proud of its relationship with the Special Olympics, which spans more than 30 years. It is the official media partner of the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015, and along with ABC, the Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America – which carried the Flame of Hope to Los Angeles. Additionally, since 2013 ESPN has been the Global Presenting Sponsor and Official Media Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports, which bring athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together as teammates.

ESPN’s support of the Special Olympics is part of The Walt Disney Company’s company-wide support, which includes Disney’s role as a Founding Champion of the LA2015 World Games.

Being a good corporate citizen is a time-honored tradition at ESPN. The company believes that, at its very best, sports uplifts the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use power of sport to positively address society’s most pressing needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. For more information go to www.espn.com/citizenship.

The Walt Disney Company, through contributions, collaborations with local organizations, in-kind gifts and volunteering, helps to brighten the lives of kids and families in need and strengthen communities around the world. For more information visit, thewaltdisneycompany.com/citizenship or twitter.com/disneycitizenship.

Contact: Paul Melvin (860-766-5069 or [email protected] )