As part of the preparation for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games there is a Head of Delegation Conference being held in Los Angeles, United States, from January 21 to January 26.

The games will be also staged in Los Angeles, running from July 25 to August 2.

Items on the conference agenda range from athletes’ registration to sport and competition, venues, transportation, meals, medical care, and media and communication.

Lorna Bell, the executive director of Special Olympics Jamaica, is representing the country at the conference.

“These meetings are very important, especially when your delegation is huge and of course, remember we are travelling with special athletes, so it is important to look at housing, transportation and meals,” Bell said.

“I will also use the opportunity to meet the Jamaican community and share with them exactly the importance of these games.”

Over 170 countries and approximately 7,000 Special Olympics athletes are expected to attend the Summer Games.

Jamaica’s delegation should comprise 88 individuals. That includes 69 athletes, 17 coaches and two officials. They will compete in aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, football, female futsal and volleyball.

Bocce is a sport in which players use an underarm action to bowl a ball at a target. Points are gained by the ball’s proximity to the target.

Jamaica won international acclaim due to historic achievements at the Special Olympics 2013 World Winter Games in the Republic of Korea.

The tropical island won silver medals in two ice figure skating categories to go with their second-place finish in floor hockey.

Special Olympics aims to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The programme offers these individuals the opportunity to develop physical fitness, participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families and other Special Olympics athletes.