(ATR)Speaking toAround the Rings in Los Angeles on Monday, Special Olympian Trudy Hyland's enthusiasm is contagious.
"I'm very excited," Hyland,representing Ireland in her first Special Olympics World Games, says.
Hyland is one of 184 athletes from 34 countries participating in the golf competition at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games through Friday. She spoke withATR prior to the nine-hole individual stroke play event.
Griffith Park, the venue for golf, will also host equestrian events through Saturday.
Golf made its debut at the Special Olympics World Games in 1995. Over 200 volunteers are helping stage the competition in L.A. this year.
United States professional golfer Jason Gore, comedian George Lopez, Miss United States Summer Priester, and former U.S. sprinter Tyree Washington were all in attendance at the golf competition on Monday.
Golf made its Pan American Games debut in Toronto two weeks ago.The sport will be part of the Olympic program next year for the first time since 1904.The Olympic golf teams will be chosen in July of next year based on the world rankings at that time.
Back at the Los Angeles Convention Center, badminton, bocce, powerlifting, and table tennis kicked off competition on Monday.
The 1987 Special Olympics World Games was the first edition to include powerlifting in its program. Over 170 athletes from 41 countries are competing in powerlifting events through Saturday.
Competition on Tuesday begins with bowling, beach volleyball, cycling, football, kayaking, softball, and tennis.Altogether, the program for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games includes 27 Olympic-style sports.
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, theSpecial Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
The organization sets up year-round training and competitions for over 4 million athletes in more than 170 countries. Special Olympics competitions are held every day, all around the world.
Over 9,000 athletes from 165 countries are participating in the games.Some 2,000 coaches and 30,000 volunteers are in the southern California city this week for the event.
The summer and winter editions of the Special Olympics World Games, held every four years, are the flagship events for the organization.
Over 500,000 people are expected to come out to watch competition in L.A. throughout the next week. Competition ends Aug. 2.
Written and reported in Los Angeles byNicole Bennett
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