In July 2015, a group of Fountain Valley residents – my wife Lynn and myself included — was asked to be part of a committee that would host athletes from another country who were here to compete in the Special Olympics World Games being held throughout Southern California.
After months of preparation, the city’s new Host Town committee was selected to host and entertain Special Olympics athletes from The Netherlands for four days leading up to the World Games.
Fountain Valley resident Ed Arnold, a founding member of the California Special Olympics and Western Region Special Olympics, served as honorary chairman of the committee.
Fountain Valley’s Host Town Committee was comprised of business people, city officials, volunteers from local nonprofit groups and other residents. Their goal was to raise money to support the hosting of Special Olympics athletes and their coaches.
This was truly a memorable experience for those who volunteered on the committee and for those who rallied to show their support for the athletes.
More than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries were welcomed to Southern California through the Host Town program. One hundred communities from San Luis Obispo to San Diego had the honor of being selected as an official Host Town.
Well, on Thursday, July 25, the city will relive part of that experience with a tribute to Special Olympics athletes during the Concert in the Park at 6 p.m. on the lawn at the Fountain Valley Sports Park.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics. Thursday’s activities will include a parade of athletes prior to the concert, comments from the evening’s master of ceremonies, Ed Arnold, and comments from Special Olympics CEO Bill Shumard and local Special Olympics athlete Rachel Osterbach, among others.
Osterbach is also as a cast member on the reality television series “Born This Way.”
Also planned is a sports skills area where, starting at 5 p.m., members of the public and Special Olympics athletes can play bocce and other Special Olympics sports.
The free concert will feature Hard Day’s Night, a Beatles tribute band. Bring chairs, blankets and dinner and enjoy the music and be a part of this special tribute to one of the city’s proudest moments.
For more information, call 714-839-8611.