NEWPORT BEACH, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 20, 2015) - On July 23^rd, 2015 starting at 3:30 p.m., ExplorOcean a nonprofit cultural institution in Newport Beach, Calif., is hosting the entire 500-strong USA Special Olympics Team at its waterfront site.

Tom Pollack, president and CEO of ExplorOcean, explains, "The competitors will enjoy a tour of the harbor, a day at the beach and will participate in hands-on ocean related activities and experiments. The athletes will arrive at 3:30 p.m. and stay until 8:30 p.m. and will enjoy dinner at Peninsula Park next to the historic Balboa Pier. We have mobilized our local businesses and residents to provide an amazing day in the iconic Balboa Village, home of the Fun Zone section of Newport Beach; but we could still use even more adult volunteers to help serve dinner!"

More than 30,000 volunteers will support over 7,000 athletes from 165 countries who are expected to compete this year in the largest athletic completion in Los Angeles since the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.

"We are honored to host the 500 athletes and coaches of the 2015 US Special Olympics Team and have planned a special day that will include marine life observations, hands-on activities and ocean-themed games and competitions," says Dr. Wendy Marshall, ExplorOcean director of education.

Newport Beach Mayor Ed Selich and Mayor Pro Tem Diane Dixon will officially welcome the team at dinner along with Tom Pollack the President/CEO of ExplorOcean.

Says Mayor Ed Selich, "The City of Newport Beach is pleased to welcome the 2015 Special Olympic athletes and coaches and showcase our fine city and cultural institutions such as ExplorOcean. Our residents are honored to welcome Team USA Special Olympics for the day and hope they will return soon!"

Newport Beach & Co. CEO Gary Sherwin, of the city's local tourist board says, ""Newport Beach is honored to host the Special Olympics. We are excited for the chance for the athletes to enjoy our city and the historic Balboa Village particularly during our wonderful and relaxing summer days."

The inspiring Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum attended by First Lady Michelle Obama, as well as athletes and celebrities including: Jimmy Kimmel, Eva Longoria, Lauren Potter, Michael Phelps, Yao Ming, Greg Louganis and many more.

About ExplorOcean
ExplorOcean, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is America's leader in providing ocean-based K-12 STEM education. The organization serves 70,000 children annually. ExplorOcean inspires, educates and engages the explorer within and develops critical 21^st century skills through interactive STEM experiences centered on the principles of ocean literacy. ExplorOcean is supported by the Winslow Maxwell Charitable Trust, First Foundation Bank, Toshiba, Wells Fargo, Anonymous, Kimberly Parry Organics and an eight-member philanthropic Board of Directors with Linda Mayer serving as Board Chair in 2015.

Non-profit partners include: the 4^th District PTA, Samueli Foundation, Vital Link, University of Southern California, Winslow Maxwell Charitable Trust, Future Leaders of our Community, PIMCO Foundation, Marisla Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, Kidworks, Tiger Woods Learning Center, Newport Seabase, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Project Success and the Salvation Army. Government partners include: the Orange County Department of Education, City of Newport Beach, California Coastal Commission, Newport-Mesa School District, Fountain Valley Unified School District, Fullerton Unified School District, Huntington Beach School District and Orange Coast College.

ExplorOcean operates from its city block sized waterfront facility and features a hands-on ocean science center, maker lab, the Steele K-12 Educational Theater featuring beautiful ship models from maritime history, science courtyard with free Saturday public programming, four energetic boardwalk rides, and its own small marina featuring a 49-passenger semi-submarine, parasail boat rides and Newport Beach Boat Rental Company offering small pleasure crafts such as 18' and 21' electric duffy's and 4 to 12-passenger runabouts for scenic harbor tours where "you get to be your own captain." For more information, visit www.explorocean.com.

About Special Olympics
With 6,500 athletes and 2,000 coaches representing 165 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games -- being staged in Los Angeles July 25-August 2, 2015 -- will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. The 2015 Special Olympics World Games, with the unparalleled spirit, enthusiasm, teamwork, joy and displays of courage and skill that are hallmarks of all Special Olympics events, will feature 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. The Opening Ceremony, to be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. On April 30, 2014, LA2015 and ESPN announced a global programming deal that will see ESPN bring coverage of World Games to millions of fans around the world. Honorary Chairs of the Games are President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Jerry Brown serving as Honorary Hosts. LA2015, the Games Organizing Committee, is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org and on social with #ReachUpLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.