Special Olympics

Trump backs off proposed Special Olympics funding cuts

  His remarks came a day after education secretary Betsy DeVos was criticised for defending a proposed $17.6m (£13.5m) cut to the organisation, which is designed for disabled children.

The request was included in Mr Trump's $4.75tn federal budget, which was not expected to pass Congress.

Mrs DeVos responded she had pushed for funding "behind the scenes".

"I heard about it this morning. I have overridden my people. We're funding the Special Olympics," Mr Trump said of the world's largest sport organisation for people with intellectual disabilities.

"They have the same rights as us, so they will participate," Chairman of Special Olympics Samoa.

"Our goal is not to try and beat best in the world in sports or to create the best minds, but everyone has a right to participate, and that is what this organisation is about," said Chairman Letaa Daniel Devoe.

Special Olympics: Suriname's Latoya Danning wins bronze

"Very well, she did very well, and we are very proud,"  Franklyn Cameron, assistant head of delegation for Suriname, told Digicel SportsMax after the performance. 

Special Olympics: Games get off to flying start

Digicel SportsMax's Lance Whittaker is on the ground in Los Angeles to share all the highlights.