GB team finish with a flourish at Special Olympics World Summer Games

Special Olympics GB athletes finished with a flourish as the World Summer Games 2015 came to a close on Sunday 2 August in Los Angeles. The GB team of over 100 athletes from England, Scotland and Wales with a learning disability, took home a total of 179 medals from the Games.

As the closing ceremony for the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2015 took place at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, the final medal tallies were being calculated. And after seven days of competition across 19 sports, Special Olympics GB team won an impressive 179 medals - 68 gold, 69 silver and 42 bronze.

In the football competition Special Olympics GB's 11 a side football team (pictured below) are the World Games Champions 2015, after winning a penalty shoot out (5-3) over Bangladesh. While in the unified football competition, Great Britain came away with a silver medal after being beaten 2-0 by a resolute Austria in the final. 

A strong squad of four athletes represented Great Britain in the table tennis competition, taking part in both the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events. In total they won nine table tennis medals - two gold, five silver and 2 bronze. Jessica Bromley played extremely well in her singles and doubles events, gifting her with one gold and two silver medals to take home from the Games. While Simon Green and Simon Richardson won 3 medals between them. Green with a gold and silver medal and Richardson winning a bronze medal with Emma Hunt in the mixed doubles.

Over the final two days of competition, Special Olympics GB's artistic gymnastics team won an impressive 46 medals - 22 gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze. Holly Riseborough from Warwickshire had a fantastic time at the Games, winning four gold medals in the all round, uneven bars, vault and floor events and a silver medal on the beam.

After seven full days of competition, the Special Olympics World Summer Games came to a close with an emotional closing ceremony marked by cheers, tears and pride. 7,000 athletes from 177 countries gathered together on the field of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to celebrate the Games. Every competitor received a World Games commemorative performance ribbon. 

Patrick McClenahan, President and Chief Executive of the games' organising committee said:

"These Games have been life-changing and we hope that this will only be a spark that will light the world on fire with the enthusiasm, courage and acceptance and inclusion for all people with intellectual disabilities."

An estimated 500,000 people turned out to watch athletes compete in 25 sports at venues in and around Los Angeles. As the Special Olympics flame was extinguished, athletes, coaches, friends and families enjoyed watching back some of the best moments from the World Summer Games 2015 with a special highlights video.

The final act of the Games was to lower the colourful Special Olympics flag and pass it over to the Austrian delegation, venue for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2017.

For a full round up of all the action from the GB team at the 2015 World Summer Games, visit Special Olympics GB website.

The English Federation of Disability Sport would like to say congratulations to everyone at Special Olympics Great Britain for a fantastic World Summer Games 2015.

Photo credit: Martin MacGurk, Special Olympics Great Britain.

Special Olympics GB works in partnership with Mencap Sport to form the English Learning Disability Sport Alliance (ELDSA). The two National Disability Sport Organisations work together to promote sport and physical activity opportunities for people with a learning disability. Click here to download an accessible PDF about the ELDSA.