5 things you need to know this weekend
Special Olympics World Games poised to be 'most inspirational event ever'
When the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968, she believed people with intellectual disabilities could change the world if given the proper stage. Starting Saturday, the Special Olympics will be on a giant stage when the World Summer Games, held every four years, open in Los Angeles. (It's the first time in 16 years the games have been in the U.S.) ESPN will provide live coverage of the Opening Ceremony along with nightly highlight reels. "This will be the most inspirational event ever. That's how big we're shooting," said Los Angeles World Games President and CEO Patrick McClenahan. Nearly 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches, representing 177 countries, will compete in 25 Olympic-style sports through August 2.
‘I Am Cait’ meant to show transgender 'new normal' on E!
Bruce Jenner's transformation in to Caitlyn Jenner will culminate in the launch of her E! reality series, I Am Cait, on Sunday. It's been quite the curated rollout: In April, Jenner gave an exclusive interview to ABC's Diane Sawyer on 20/20. Then came Jenner's turn as Vanity Fair's July cover girl. She made more headlines with a moving speech at the ESPY awards July 15. "It's about what happens from here," Jenner said on stage. "It's not just about me. It's about all of us accepting one another." The next step in Jenner's story begins Sunday, with the premiere of the reality series. It comes with mixed reviews from transgender community advocates. Jenner's transition exhibits her "privilege" of wealth and celebrity, said Angelica Ross, the CEO of TransTechSocial Enterprises. But Ken Jiretsu, a transgender activist from Baltimore said that showing the normalcy of a family with a transgender parent on an E! series exemplifies that transgender families are "just like everybody else.” Paste BN TV critic Robert Bianco says it's worth watching — at least once. I Am Cait airs at 8 p.m. ET on E!.
NFL teams head to training camps this weekend
It's the first sign that football season is finally — finally! — almost here. The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers report for duty Saturday as NFL training camps open up for the season. (Other camps will be in business by Aug. 2.) Optimism typically runs high in July, but every team has its issues. Eyes will be on the Vikings' Adrian Peterson, who's working his way back from a fall from grace after accusations of injuring his 4-year-old son. Also of interest? How post-Deflategate Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are doing. The first season game is Sept. 10 between the Steelers and the New England Patriots. Here are five teams to keep an eye on.
Controversial Satanic monument to be unveiled in Detroit
The Satanic Temple of Detroit plans to unveil a 9-foot statue of Baphomet at an as-yet undisclosed location. The event is to kick off the group's legal efforts to secure placement of the monument next to a Ten Commandments monument on public grounds in Oklahoma or Arkansas. The bronze goat-headed idol weighs one ton, cost more than $100,000 and had been planned for the state Capitol in Oklahoma City until Oklahoma's Supreme Court banned religious displays, including a monument of the Ten Commandments, on Capitol grounds. A Ten Commandments monument is planned outside Arkansas' Statehouse in Little Rock. The temple advocates for the separation of church and state.
Trump, Hillary Clinton and more candidates swarm Iowa
Donald Trump returns to Iowa this weekend. It’s the Republican candidate’s first time back since his controversial comments about Sen. John McCain at last week’s Family Leadership Summit in Ames. Meanwhile, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton returns to Iowa for her third time this month, with seven events in the three days. Also visiting the Hawkeye State this weekend: Republicans Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina, and Democratic hopeful Martin O’Malley.
And, the weekend essentials:
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