Special Olympics World Games: GB team set for action

A team of 115 athletes from across England, Scotland and Wales will be representing Great Britain at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles which start on Saturday.

They will join in the region of 7,000 athletes from 177 countries - along with 3,000 coaches, 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators who will be part of the event which runs until 2 August.

The event for athletes with intellectual disabilities will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015 and is also the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics.

Special Olympics GB chief executive Karen Wallin said: "I am delighted that we are able to take such a large team to represent the country at what should be an incredible World Summer Games in Los Angeles.

"This should be a World Games to remember. We will be proud of every athlete and we know they will strive to be the very best they can. We will bring home medals but most importantly our athletes will obtain memories, friendships and experiences to last a lifetime."

You can find the list of the full Great Britain team on the Special Olympics GB website.

BBC reporter Stuart Pollitt gives the background to the competition.