Special Olympics Florida - St Lucie County is proud to announce that our very own Kenyatta Johnson is traveling to compete in the 2011 World Summer Games. The Games are being held June 25 through July 4 in Athens, Greece.

For 18 years Kenyatta has participated in Special Olympics competitions in golf, basketball and softball. This is Kenyatta's second trip to the World Games having first engaged in competition in 1999 and followed with two gold medals in the 2007 and 2008 USA National Golf Invitationals.

"(Through Special Olympics) I got to play a sport I did not think I would be playing — golf," Johnson said. "Special Olympics means a lot to me, and the World Games are the best way to meet other people."

With 16 other athletes from Florida, Johnson departed for the Games on Saturday. Flying from Orlando to Baltimore, where they will join the rest of Team USA, they will then leave for Greece.

"Through hard work, dedication and commitment, Florida's athletes will be amongst the most inspiring competitors in the world," Special Olympics Florida president Monty Castevens said. "Competing in the World Games is a chance of a lifetime for these athletes, but also a chance for the rest of the world to witness the accomplishments and victories of people with intellectual disabilities."

The 13^th Special Olympics World Summer Games is the largest sporting event held in the world in 2011 and the first major sporting event in Athens since the Olympics were held there in 2004.  Special Olympics Team USA will be joining 7,000 fellow athletes and teams from 180 nations around the world in Athens, Greece.  Special Olympics athletes of all ability levels will compete in 22 different Olympic-type sports including: aquatics (swimming), athletics (track and field), badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bocce, bowling, cycling, equestrian, football (soccer), golf, gymnastics, handball, judo, kayaking, powerlifting, roller skating, sailing, softball, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and the Motor Activity Training Program (MATP). Throughout the competition June 25 - July 4, athletes will display their athletic skill, determination and courage to the world, uniting people of all abilities through the power of sport.

ESPN Corporate Outreach announced plans to cover Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011 on two ESPN media entities.  ESPN3.com will be the exclusive live media home for the opening (Saturday, June 25, 1 – 4 p.m. ET) and closing ceremonies (Monday, July 4, 1 - 4 p.m.) in the United States.