Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/551105
2 4 | PULSE S u m m e r 2 0 1 5 Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." Since 1968 this Special Olympics athlete oath—introduced by Eunice Kennedy Shriver (founder of Special Olympics and sister of President John F. Kennedy) at the first-ever International Special Olympics Games—has inspired millions of people around the world. Special Olympics has enriched the life of 24-year-old Caley Versfelt of Manhattan Beach in ways she couldn't have imagined. She's more confident, more outgoing and always up for a challenge as a result. She's coined her own motto too: "Dream big and never give up." e athlete took home her first medal—in swimming—at her first Games when she was just 9 years old. Since then, she has competed and medaled at numerous Special Olympics Summer Games at California State University, Long Beach—the location of one of two annual championships for athletes in the region. And during this past year she's been involved in something even bigger: preparation for the much-anticipated Special Olympics World Games, hosted by the city of Los Angeles and taking place July 25 through August 2. Versfelt was appointed a World Games Global Messenger for this year's Games, and as a result she has spoken at several events throughout Southern California. She's also been busy working as a receptionist in the bustling downtown Los Angeles headquarters office of the LA 2015 World Games Organizing Committee, where she says the atmosphere is especially exciting these days. "It's busy—there are about 200 people working here," she says. "We are getting a lot of phone calls right now. But it's fun." It's not surprising that things are heating up in the office. Some 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, as well as upwards of 30,000 volunteers and an estimated 500,000 spectators, will be in Los Angeles for the Games—making this the largest sports and humanitarian event hosted in the world this year, and the biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. In the three days leading up to the Games, July 21-24, 2015, the Beach Cities of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo will be among many Los Angeles communities serving as Host Towns—welcoming , hosting and celebrating athletes from countries around the globe. Visiting athletes and their families will participate in events with community members, take part in Left: Caley with a friend at the University of Southern California invitational last June. Below: Caley and her best friend—Dad.