Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber give Special Olympics Canadian flavor

Avril Lavigne and Justin Bieber bring Canadian-flavored star power to Special Olympics World Games

The 2015 Special Olympics kicked off in Los Angeles this weekend, but from the prominent star sightings one might might have been led to believe the Games were being held in Toronto. In her first performance in over a year, Canadian Avril Lavigne sang “Fly” — especially written for the Opening Ceremony, while countryman Justin Bieber was spotted hanging out with Team Canada.

THERE’S A LIGHT INSIDE

As Lavigne sang in front of the arches at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Flame of Hope made its way via handheld torches across a red carpet stretched across the field.

The flame was passed in turn from torches carried by Nigerian basketball player Solomon Jegede, Mongolian track athlete Davaa Magvansuren, Iranian table tennis player Horieh Golchin, Israeli basketball player Eliyahu Somer, and Cuban badminton players Darianny Urtado and Lilianni Saldado.

“There's a light inside all of us. It's never hiding you just have to light it. It's the one thing that you got to trust. It's like a diamond, you just have to find it.”

— Chorus to Avril Lavigne's Fly

BIEBER BACKS TEAM CANADA

While Bieber hails from Canada, it was just a short drive from his Beverly Hills mansion to get to the LA Coliseum. The 21-year-old helped lead a “Let’s go Canada!” chant as Team Canada assembled in the tunnel leading to the track for the parade of nations.