los angeles
![Photo courtesy of SpecialOlympicsUSA via Flickr Creative Commons](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/19793879913_3013605a2f_z.jpg?itok=bVolBai4)
A look at what people said in social media about the Special Olympics 2015 in Los Angeles.
The Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles this week is extraordinary in its multifaceted reach. The Opening Ceremonies in front of 65,000 people in the Coliseum and on ESPN on Saturday was number one on Facebook. The competitions have been drawing full houses and an international television audience for the first time. Moreover, the lives of the athletes have been changed in ways no other sports competition achieves.
![Photo reprinted courtesy Barry Sanders An athlete is treated at "Healthy Athletes"](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/speical%20olympics%20treatment_0_0.jpg?itok=9HjJMsIj)
Barry Sanders on cultivating goodwill through good healthcare.
This video demonstrates the power of sports diplomacy to empower athletes of all abilities and talents to succeed when given the opportunity.
![Photo reprinted courtesy Barry Sanders Special Olympics opening ceremonies](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/Special%20Olympics%20photo.jpg?itok=qF18pWLc)
Barry Sanders reflects on the 2015 Opening Ceremonies in Los Angeles.
![Photo Source: Arab Film Festival http://www.arabfilmfestival.org/aff2015-dates-announced-2/](https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/sites/default/files/styles/275x168/public/uploads/AFF%202015%20-%20608.jpg?itok=HLngdgX6)
After an all-out four-day weekend in Los Angeles, Anime Expo closed its doors for another year on July 5. Finally, Marc Perez has a few moments to breathe. “The hours are very nice a couple of months out of the year,” the CEO of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), says of his job. Then it’s another 11 months of pre-con crunch time.
"The art of photography can build a bridge between cultures and carry our collaboration forward. 'Concept: Turkey' is a very important event in terms of the meeting of two different cultures," Türkoğlu said. He also invited everyone who is interested in photography to become a part of the project in order to introduce the Turkish way of life as well as culture to the Americans.