By Nick Butler

FiveCurrents will take charge of the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games ©FiveCurrentsFiveCurrents, the company behind the Opening Ceremonies of the London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, will perform a similar role at this summer's Special Olympic World Games in Los Angeles.


The Emmy-award winning United States-based organisation will celebrate the opening of the Games with an "unmatched spectacle of lights, sounds and magic", they have pledged, focusing on athletes, the "true stars" of the Games.

They were chosen after a competitive process to be the executive producer for the Ceremonies, with their experience working on 12 Olympics, four Paralympics and nine other major multi-sport events during the last 25 years, crucial.

In what will be a busy year, they will also play a key role in producing the ceremonies at both the European Games in Baku and the Pan American Games in Toronto. 

"We are proud to serve as the official producer of the Special Olympics World Games 2015," said Scott Givens, President of FiveCurrents.

"Having produced the Opening Ceremonies of back-to-back Olympic Games, we are looking forward to bringing the world together to celebrate another once-in-a-lifetime moment of international pride right here in our home state and country."

FiveCurrents produced the Opening Ceremony of Sochi 2014 ©AFP/Getty ImagesFiveCurrents produced the Opening Ceremony of Sochi 2014 ©AFP/Getty Images



The Special Olympics, due to place from July 25 to August 2, will consist of around 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators.

It is set to be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, showcasing 24 full disciplines, along with four demonstration events. 

The Opening Ceremony will take place at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the venue for the 1932 and 1984 Olympics, next July in front of 90,000 fans, including dignitaries from around the world, it is hoped.

It will be broadcast live and distributed internationally by ESPN, Official Broadcaster of the Games. 

Patrick McClenahan, President and chief executive of Los Angeles 2015, added: "We are looking forward to creating the stage that will celebrate the courage, determination and joy of our athletes.

"With the support of FiveCurrents, we will welcome the world as we cast a spotlight on acceptance and inclusion."

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