West Covina will host Special Olympics athletes ahead of 2015 Games; council approves city participation
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Summary
The council voted 5-0 to become a host town for Special Olympics athletes, with staff and local nonprofits identifying housing and transportation plans and estimating modest city costs to cover meals and activities.
The West Covina City Council unanimously approved making the city a host town for athletes attending the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
City Recreation staff member Chris Freeland briefed the council on the host‑town program, saying Special Olympics requested local communities to provide housing, meals, cultural activities and local transportation for delegations arriving before competitions. Freeland said the program would place up to about 100 athletes in West Covina for a scheduled stay just before the Los Angeles competitions.
Freeland told the council that the Rotary Club of West Covina Sunrise had arranged with the Fairfield Inn & Suites to secure 50 double‑occupancy rooms (100 rooms total) to house athletes. Staff estimated the city's exposure for meals and activities at roughly $40 per athlete and about $12,000 overall for the city's portion, which staff said could be covered by general fund, foundation, or donations from service groups.
Councilmember Toma, who moved to have West Covina become a host town, said he had attended a meeting of service groups that showed broad enthusiasm and willingness to help with housing, meals and cultural programs; Mayor Pro Tem Sykes seconded the motion. Council members asked staff to pursue fundraising and coordination with local nonprofits; staff noted transportation while in West Covina would come from existing transportation funds and Special Olympics would arrange competition‑period transport to Los Angeles.
The motion passed 5-0.
Council members said they view the host‑town role as an opportunity for the community to participate in a regional event and to showcase local volunteer capacity.
