Los Angeles 2024 vice-chair Candace Cable has taken part in Abilities Expo in a bid to raise awareness for accessibility and reaffirm the bid’s commitment to delivering the “most inclusive Games in history.”
Founded in Los Angeles nearly 40 years ago, Abilities Expo allows people with disabilities, their families, the elderly, veterans and healthcare professionals to discover new technology, solutions and opportunities to improve their lives.
Cable, a wheelchair racer and skier and the first woman to win medals at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, praised Los Angeles’ wealth of existing sports facilities for their state-of-the-art accessibility standards.
She also reiterated Los Angeles 2024’s commitment to promoting Paralympic sport in the United States and around the globe.
Speaking alongside Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and executive director of the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability Steve Simon, Cable addressed thousands at Abilities Expo.
She spoke of the potential sporting and career opportunities the 2024 Games could create for people with an impairment.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Movement has the power to bring our communities together, celebrate our common humanity and promote peace and understanding through sport,” said Cable.
“More than a million people with an impairment live in Los Angeles, and this weekend’s events reminded us that not only are Angelenos already passionate and committed to building a city that serves all of its residents, but that Los Angeles is poised to deliver the most inclusive Games in history.
“Further, as the global hub of entertainment and technology, Los Angeles is uniquely positioned to raise the profile of Paralympic sport in the US and around the globe.
“Los Angeles 2024 would relish the opportunity to put Angelenos’ creative storytellers at the service of the Paralympic Movement, to introduce adaptive sport to the next generation of fans and athletes.”
Los Angeles 2024 also took part in CicLAvia, the largest open streets celebration in the US, by hosting a “Culver City Meets Venice” event.
Streets were closed to vehicles and were converted into areas for children, families and other residents.
The 20th CicLAvia event since 2010 featured a number of event hubs, where participants enjoyed art, music and food.
In addition to hundreds of volunteers taking part in the Bid Committee’s volunteer service program, Los Angeles 2024 was joined at CicLAvia by young athletes from “Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word.”
This organization was founded by former professional skateboarder Cindy Whitehead and is dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women and girls to participate and earn recognition in action sports.
By Max Winters
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.
[…] of LA’s commitment to the Paralympic community and LA 2024’s effort to create “sporting and career opportunities” for those with impairments. LA, meanwhile, was recently described as the most financially […]