August 1, 2015
Special Olympics World Games LA 2015 on ESPN – Saturday, August 1
- Lindsay Czarniak and Kevin Neghandhi host coverage at 7 p.m. ET
- Expanded 1 hour program tonight
- com coverage continues with powerful features and competition showcase
- 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 and will conclude with the Closing Ceremony tomorrow.
Each night throughout the Games, ESPN’s Lindsay Czarniak and Kevin Neghandhi 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.
Tonight’s edition of Special Olympics World Games LA 2015 will be one hour long.
Scheduling change note: The Best of Special Olympics World Games LA2015 program originally scheduled for August 7 at 7 p.m. will now air on August 6 at 8 p.m. See full schedule details below.
On Saturday night’s show:
- UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: As a boy in India, Ankush Saha followed his father – a Lt. Colonel in the military – to the golf course. Within days, his father knew his son was swinging better than him. ESPN’s Marty Smith tells Saha’s story.
- HEALTHY ATHLETES: The Special Olympics World Games is more than just a competition. The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Program also is the largest public health program for those with intellectual disabilities, providing sometimes life saving healthcare to every competitor.
- IN THE COMPANY OF LEGENDS: Olympic legends Bart Connor and Nadia Comaneci bring the stories and action from the gymnastics competitions.
- COMPETITION SHOWCASE: Jason Benetti and Victoria Arlen provide coverage highlights from the Half Marathon, Track and Field and more.
ICYMI: In case you missed missed past episodes of Special Olympics World Games LA 2015 or parts of ESPN’s overall coverage of the World Games, some highlights included:
- THE STATE OF ID: A powerful feature, narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Julianne Moore, examines the state of those with intellectual disabilities around the world. HERE
- UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL – Left without supervision and sometimes without food, Andrew Smiley found a life in a foster home and in the water of the Cayman Islands. Now he has come to Los Angeles for his fourth World Games for a chance to take home gold for his Island nation. HERE
- 30 FOR 30 SHORT – “BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT”: In its digital debut on Grantland, this 30 For 30 Short, executive produced by Maria Shriver and directed by Peabody- and Emmy-winning filmmaker Fritz Mitchell, tells the story of the vision and courage of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founding force behind Special Olympics. WATCH IT IN FULL 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:
- SETTING SAIL TO INDEPENDENCE: Terrel Limerick, closely bonded to his twin brother, Joel, took to sailing at the Special Olympics World Games, and now charts his own path. HERE
- WITH open arms: Mphatso Chiphwanya, a tennis player from Malawi, didn’t have anyone to practice with, so the U.S. team unofficially adopted her. HERE
- Fans in the stands: Fans at the World Games have been loud and exuberant all week. Here’s a look at the excitement from the stands. 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:
(Photo by Scott Clarke / ESPN Images)
(Photo by Kohjiro Kinno / ESPN Images)
(Photo by Scott Clarke / ESPN Images)
(Photo by Scott Clarke / ESPN Images)
The full collection of ESPN Images photos from the event, available for use in editorial coverage, can be found here: https://bit.ly/1TZgIuh
COVERAGE SCHEDULE
| Day/Date | Program | Time (ET) | Network |
| Sun, July 26 | Special Olympics World Games LA2015 | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 12 midnight | ESPN2 | |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 2 a.m. | ESPN | |
| Mon, July 27 | Special Olympics World Games LA2015 | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 11:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 2 a.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Tue, July 28 | Special Olympics World Games LA2015 | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 11:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 2 a.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Wed, July 29 | Special Olympics World Games LA2015 | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 11:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 2 a.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Thur, July 30 | Special Olympics World Games LA2015 | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 11:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 2 a.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Fri, July 31 | Special Olympics World Games LA2015 | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 2 a.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Sat, Aug 1 | ESPN on ABC Sports Saturday (reair) | 4 p.m. | ABC |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 | 7 p.m. | ESPN | |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 11:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 2 a.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Fri, Aug 6 | Best of Special Olympics World Games LA2015 | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sat, Aug 8 | Best of Special Olympics World Games LA2015 (reair) | 4 p.m. | ABC |
** 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 paul.melvin@espn.com )
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