A PICTURE of the Great Britain team in the Special Olympics World Games, including two Keighley athletes, has been released.

TeamSOGB this morning tweeted the first photograph of the entire UK team gathered in Los Angeles.

The hundred-plus athletes include James Crossley, 22, from East Morton, and Chris Woodhead, 31, from Haworth, who are competing in powerlifting competitions.

The pair are in the US with Bradford power lifter Helen Burton, 45, and all three are from Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure.

They have been spending three days in the Californian town of Calabasas for cultural visits, light training and acclimatisation to the hot weather, in advance of tomorrow’s opening ceremony.

The people of Calabasas, described by TeamSOGB as “so incredible, warm, gracious and hospitable”, last night dressed athletes and coaches in cowboy hats and scarves and provided an outdoor feast of barbecue food, music and entertainment.

The opening ceremony on Saturday will feature performances by Stevie Wonder, Avril Lavigne, Cody Simpson and Nicole Scherzinger.

The Big Show, one of the world’s most famous WWE wrestlers, today sent a message of support to the TeamSOGB athletes.

Gold-medal winning swimmer Ellie Simmonds took a break from her hugely competition schedule to send a video for to members of the GB team, Matthew Allen and Jennifer Chesterman, who had earlier listed her as their sporting hero.

A spokesman for TeamSOGB said: “Special Olympics helps to unlock the power and potential of each individual athlete with a learning disability. “It is allowing each athlete to thrive and strive towards their own personal best – whether that is a medal or the victory of being part of something as special a World Games.

“Since the 1995 World Games, Special Olympics GB has achieved a total 994 medals and countless personal bests. Another six medals of any colour will take the number to 1,000 over the last 20 years and five World Games.”

The World Special Olympics will be screened live on sports channel ESPN.