Special Olympics Announces Louis Lauria as Global Chief of Games and Competitions

February 08, 2017 | Washington, D.C

As the Global Chief of Games and Competitions, Louis Lauria will be responsible for the administration and management of the Special Olympics World and Regional Games.

Press Release

Special Olympics recently announced Louis Lauria as its new Global Chief of Games and Competitions. Lauria, who began working at Special Olympics in November, has previously served in a variety of key leadership positions in international sports business and has had a career that has spanned more than two decades.

In his new role, he will be responsible for the administration and management of the Special Olympics World and Regional Games, the flagship events of the movement. He will split his time between the Special Olympics global headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia.

"We are thrilled to have Lou join our senior leadership team," shared Mary Davis, Special Olympics CEO. "As we continue to improve the quality of our Sports and Games initiatives in support of our global strategic plan, Lou’s extensive expertise in sports event planning and management is a perfect and critical fit for our organization. As we head into the final month of planning for our 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria and begin planning for our recently announced 2019 Games in Abu Dhabi, Lou’s leadership skills will be invaluable to ensuring these multi-sport events are a success."

Prior to joining Special Olympics Mr. Lauria worked within the Olympic and Paralympic movement for over 20 years, including roles within the Organizing Committees for the Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Salt Lake 2002 Games in Sport, Venue Management and Paralympic Integration. He then worked for the International Paralympic Committee in Games Planning before taking a role with the IOC within the Television and Marketing Services area.

Most recently, Mr. Lauria was Vice President of Helios Partners, a boutique international sports agency which consulted on bid cities, sponsors, sports federations, and properties. While at Helios, Mr. Lauria worked across a broad range of projects including the bids for PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. He also worked with the Sochi 2014 and Kazan 2013 Organizing Committees, and with multiple Olympic sponsors including; Dow, Lloyds TSB, Deloitte, and Sainsbury. His also led federation consulting on projects with FISU and FIAS. Mr. Lauria holds a Mass Communications from Emerson College and studied Sport Management at Temple University.

He serves the community on several boards including the: Emerson College Alumni Board, USA Weightlifting Board, and the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence Board.

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Christy Weir

Director, Global Media and Public Relations

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Special Olympics

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Washington, DC 20036

Tel +1 202 824-0307

Mob +1 202 738-8511

Fax +1 202 824 0354

Email cweir@specialolympics.org

http://www.specialolympics.org/

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