Local athletes, coaches headed to Special Olympics games in Los Angeles

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A group of 15 Illinois athletes and eight coaches are heading to Los Angeles to compete in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

"It's more athletic. You got more endurance, effort from different teams. Just a lot, I just love it, you know," said Antonio Williams, a Special Olympics USA soccer player.

Williams, 25, and 29-year-olds Michael Henderson and Israel Rivera are three of a kind.

"I do a lot of sports: basketball, baseball, softball, tennis. I'm a state champion of the soccer," Henderson said.

"We're going to try our hardest. We're not going to give up. Even if we're losing badly, we're going to keep playing hard and play defense and don't give up," Rivera said.

These soccer players all train together at Chicago Park District's Loyola Park. They will be part of Special Olympics USA - a 481-member delegation representing the United States.

"Athletes across the entire world are participating in sport because of this little thing that started in Chicago 47 years ago, and we should be proud of that," said Harold Gauthier, Special Olympics Chicago. "We should be proud of the great things we've done and the impact that we're doing on the world. So these guys, in my mind, they're our greatest ambassadors."

Los Angeles will host nearly 7,000 athletes from more than 170 nations arriving later this week for the Special Olympics World Games, which begins on July 26. They will be in need of housing, meals, transportation and more - to learn more about supporting an athlete, visit the 2015 Special Olympics website.

ESPN is the Official broadcast network of the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles.