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Home My WebLink About11-10-2014 C5 Authorization to Participate as a Special Olympics Host TownCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Agenda Report, Meeting Date, Item Number FROM: Katie Lichtig, City Manager Prepared By: Michael Codron, Assistant City Manager Molly Cano, Tourism Manager SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION FOR CITY PARTICIPATION AS A SPECIAL OLYMPICS HOST TOWN RECOMMENDATION Authorize the City Manager or designee to coordinate City participation as a Host Town for the Special Olympics, and direct staff to proceed with plans to organize the necessary activities. DISCUSSION Background The 2015 Special Olympics World Games will be held in Los Angeles from July 25 through August 2. Over 7,000 athletes will participate from 177 countries. Special Olympics has developed a Host Town Program to help athletes acclimate to the area and climate before the games begin. They are in the process of recruiting approximately 100 host towns in the Southern California area from San Luis Obispo County to San Diego, to provide housing, meals, activities, transportation and practice facilities the three days prior to the games. City Managers, the County Administrative Officer, and representatives from Cal Poly have discussed the benefits of hosting. Cal Poly has agreed to provide dorm rooms, breakfasts and practice facilities for the athletes at a minimal cost. In addition to housing at Cal Poly, Special Olympics will work with local hotels for lodging offers for visitors accompanying the athletes. The participating Host Towns partners will provide lunch, dinner and evening activities, as well as transportation to and from Cal Poly. Preliminary discussion of the proposed events throughout the area include: North County afternoon and evening event, Morro Bay luncheon event, San Luis Obispo dinner and Farmers’ Market evening event, and a South County lunch and evening beach event. While this could change it meets the needs of distributing the responsibilities and giving the athletes and their chaperones the opportunity to experience many sights and activities the County has to offer. It is proposed that a countywide committee, led by the local San Luis Obispo Special Olympics organization, will be established to include a city, chamber of commerce, and community representative from each jurisdiction. Cal Poly representatives will also be on the committee to arrange the overall schedule, support fundraising efforts and to coordinate logistics. Each jurisdiction would then form smaller committees to plan each individual event. 11/10/14 C5 C5 - 1 2015 Special Olympics Host Town Program Page 2 Moving Forward If the City Council supports the staff recommendation, the first step is to schedule an official announcement. A representative from the World Games would come to San Luis Obispo to organize and support the announcement. It is tentatively recommended by Special Olympics World Games representative that the official announcement be held locally with all the Mayors in mid-November. More information will follow once this announcement is solidified. CONCURRENCES At this time, no opposition has been expressed by the other jurisdictions in the County to the Host Town concept. FISCAL IMPACT There are minimal costs associated with the Host Town program. The City would be participating with Cal Poly and the other cities as well as community groups in the County minimizing cost to the City. By working with local service clubs, costs can be further minimized while ensuring a warm welcome for athletes in San Luis Obispo. ALTERNATIVES The City Council could choose not to participate in the Host Town program, or can provide different direction to staff regarding the scope of its involvement in the program. ATTACHMENTS Special Olympics World Games Host Town Program Information t:\council agenda reports\2014\2014-11-10 (rescheduled reg mtg)\special olympics (codron-lichtig)\special olympics car.docx C5 - 2 www.LA2015.org Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 HOST TOWN PROGRAM JULY 21 – 24, 2015 What is the Host Town Program? The Host Town Program is a very special 3-day program that takes place prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games 2015. At their Host Towns, athletic delegations from around the world will be welcomed and celebrated. Their Host Town’s schedule of events will include getting to know community members, taking part in cultural activities unique to your area, and--of course--practicing and resting for the games. The Special Olympics athletes will feel truly celebrated and Host Town members will make friends for life. When are the Host Towns? Delegations arrive on July 21 and delegations depart on July 24, 2015. What communities can be Host Towns? Host Towns can be the largest cities or the smallest towns in Southern California—and, in some cases, they can also be civic groups and clubs. Communities located from San Luis Obispo to San Diego are eligible. Altogether, there will be approximately 100 Host Towns. How many athletes would spend time at a Host Town? Host Towns will have the opportunity to roll out the red carpet for approximately 100 athletes--typically one or two delegations. What does a Host Town have to do? The Host Town will be responsible for 100% of the costs of hosting their delegations, which includes expenses such as lodging and food. The World Games 2015 has experience advising Host Towns and can provide suggestions for securing in-kind donations and holding fundraisers. Why should my community become a Host Town? You and your neighbors will be taking part in the largest humanitarian and athletic event Los Angeles has seen since the 1984 Olympics. Over 7,000 athletes will show courage, determination and joy as they spend four days in your community and then go on to compete in 25 different events during the World Games. Your community will serve a very special role, welcoming Special Olympic athletes to SoCal and getting to know them. After these three never-to-be-forgotten days, the athletes will be changed for the better…and so will you. For more information contact: Joann Klonowski, Vice President, Host Town Program Joann.Klonowski@LA2015.org | Office: (213) 892-6038 | Mobile: (213) 369-1510 Attachment 1 C5 - 3 www.LA2015.org Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 HOST TOWN PROGRAM JULY 21 – 24, 2015 It’s easy to get started! Use the resources of your community to set up your Host Town Accommodations – You will need to identify approximately 50 double-occupancy rooms for the athletes in or near your community. Talk to local colleges and universities about a donation of dormitory space. Or, speak to hotel chains in your area—many will want to be part of the Special Olympics experience either by donating space or providing rooms at a discount. Make sure you have plenty of volunteers on hand to welcome the athletes, show them to their rooms and assist with baggage. Training Facilities – You should make sure that the athletes have a way to practice their skills prior to the Games or just have an opportunity to work out. Check with local schools to find out what facilities might be available, including a gym with training facilities, a soccer-style field and a track. Food – You will want to supply nutritious food and plenty of water. As with any athlete, it is important that they be given healthy breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Make arrangements with local restaurants, civic clubs, and colleges to provide meals for athletes. Involve community members in a giant Pot Luck. Ask local markets for food donations. Transportation – You should determine your transportation needs. The World Games 2015 will be responsible for bringing the Special Olympics athletes to and from your community. You will need to arrange transportation to bring them to local events during their visit. Speak to local bus companies, car dealers or car rental agencies to see whether they can contribute their services or provide a discounted rate. Activities – You should plan some great activities to introduce the athletes to your community and spread the word about the World Games. Arrange for 2 two-hour events to be held on July 22 and July 23, and a possible activity on July 21 if the delegation arrives earlier in the day. Be sure to highlight what is unique about your community, such as a historic site. Bring in local artists, writers, and performers to create special events. Look for interesting places to hold cultural events. Security – You will need to supply basic oversight of your events to make sure your three days go smoothly. Recruit local volunteers to be on site. Attachment 1 C5 - 4 350 South Grand Avenue, Suite 200, Los Angeles, California 90071 USA www.LA2015.org HONORARY CO-CHAIRS President of the United States Barack Obama First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama HONORARY HOSTS Governor of California Jerry Brown Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Rob Friedman Debi Anderson Rick Caruso Mark Davis Anita DeFrantz Donna de Varona Dr. Edward Ellison Todd Goldstein Rafer Johnson Michelle Kerrick Andrew Knox Sherry Lansing Cindy McCain William O’Brien David O’Connor Maidie Oliveau Dustin Plunkett Donna Pulini Susan Saint James Barry Sanders David Simon Bryan Stockton Dick Van Kirk Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 truly is an international event. Without the participation of the many local programs around the world, the Special Olympics movement wouldn’t continue let alone the World Games. The most recent count of participating delegations registered 177 countries – all are listed below. Algeria Andorra Afghanistan Albania Argentina Armenia American Samoa Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Baharain Barbados Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Belize Bermuda Bharat / India Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire Bosnia & Herzogovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Cayman Islands Cambodia Camerun Canada Chad Chile China Chinese Taipei Colombia Congo Comoros Costa Rica Cote d’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Faroe Island Fiji Finland France Georgia Republic Germany Ghana Gibraltar Great Britain Greece Guadeloupe Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan / Nippon Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Korea Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99) Kyrgyz Republic Kuwait Laos Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau FYR Macedonia Malawi Mali Malaysia Malta Maldives Mauritania Mauritus Mexico Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Montserrat Myanmar Namibia Netherlands New Zealand Nepal Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Paraguay Panama Attachment 1 C5 - 5 350 South Grand Avenue, Suite 200, Los Angeles, California 90071 www.LA2015.org Papua New Guinea Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda San Marino Samoa Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia &Montenego Seychelles Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa Spain Serendib (Sri lanka) St.Kitts & Nevis St.Lucia St.Martin St. Vincents Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Tajikistan Tanzania Togo Tongan Thailand Timore Leste Trinidad &Tobago Tunisia Team USA Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda United Arab Emirates Uruguay Uzbekistan Ukraine Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Attachment 1 C5 - 6