Small City, Huge Performance
F
or four weather friendly days in July,
2015, The City of Calabasas and their citizens pulled
together from top to bottom and put on the show of its
lifetime. Over 170 Special Olympic athletes, coaches
and support personnel from Great Britain arrived for their
preparation in the 2015 Special Olympic World Games of Los
Angeles.
While staying at King Gillette Ranch, our guests acclimated
themselves to the local weather, a different culture, and our
lifestyles when not training for their sporting events. Many
organizations and people were responsible for the success of this
event. The athletes were housed by the Mountain Recreation
and Conservation Authority and they were fed meals three
times a day, all provided by local restaurants. Entertainment
was provided by local cultural and nature organizations,
transportation was donated by the City of Calabasas, multiple
training facilities were provided by the Las Virgenes Unified
School District, via
Calabasas High School,
and a local equestrian
training facility and a local
bowling alley also donated
their facilities.
There is no group of people that
deserves more praise than the citizens of Calabasas,
who stepped up and filled over 500 volunteer positions needed
throughout the four days. It started with fundraising, then
making the beds for our guests at King Gillette Ranch, and
ended with us lining the road as the athletes left, cheering them
on for the last time in Calabasas. When all that was done, we
even went to the athletes’ events and cheered them on during
the World Games. From the youngest to the oldest Calabasas
gave freely.
It took over $120,000 for us to put on this event. None of
this could have been done without the participation of our local
businesses and Chamber members. Volunteers were provided,
money was raised and donated.
The City of Calabasas provided not only the transportation,
but also venues, employees and volunteers.
Great Britain’s stay was highlighted by the Thursday night
Hoedown, where the delegates were fed at King Gillette
Ranch with barbecued meats, beans, salads and corn. The
athletes donned their cowboy hats and bandanas and learned
to square dance by the help of a live caller and a live band;
they intermingled with the local Fire Department, Sheriff ’s
Department, local Rangers and the citizens of Calabasas.
It was a bitter sweet moment to watch the buses leave Friday
morning, led by the flashing lights of the Sheriff escort vehicles,