Ben Kelly is jetting off to LA to compete for Special Olympics GB in the World Summer Games.

The St Albans based footballer is part of a 100-strong heading across the Atlantic to compete with 177 countries in front of Barack and Michelle Obama.

Kelly trains with St Albans City Youth Disability Team, a partner club of Special Olympics St Albans

Special Olympics GB is the largest registered charity providing year round sports training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in England, Scotland and Wales.

The World Summer Games for athletes with intellectual disabilities will commence with an opening ceremony on July 25 in the Memorial Coliseum, the site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games.

The World Summer Games is the global showpiece event for Special Olympics and is held every four years by the organisation for its athletes. In the region of 7,000 athletes, along with 3,000 coaches, 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators will take part in the Games.

The event, which will run until August 2, will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015.

Special Olympics is an international organisation that changes lives through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all. Founded in 1968 by the Kennedy family, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than four across world, providing year round sports training and competition.

For details on Special Olympics St Albans, its sessions and other opportunities, contact Susi Williams on Susie.williams@1life.co.uk or 01727 819422