Two Olympians have already started their athletic careers as Bruins. Collectively, the "Freshman Four" are looking forward to immersing themselves in the student experience in Westwood.
The University of California is sending so many athletes that they make up 8 percent of the U.S. delegation. In all, UC participants are competing in 18 sports under the flags of 27 countries.
Blake Krikorian, who played on UCLA's water polo team for four years between 1986 and 1989, died Wednesday, Aug. 3 while surfing in the San Francisco area.
Special Olympics World Games executives on Nov. 30 presented UCLA Chancellor Gene Block with a commemorative torch to thank the campus for hosting athletes and events last summer.
UCLA Health has been providing all the staff, materials and supplies to run the Special Olympics Polyclinic since July 24 to offer free medical care to any athlete or delegate who becomes injured.
The UCLA Volunteer Center, which is coordinating Team UCLA’s efforts campuswide, estimates that nearly 1,000 Bruin students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters are lending their time and talents to make the games a rousing success.