Special Olympics Athletes Are Making History

Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, the global Sports Press Association (AIPS), Microsoft, Lions Clubs global, Toys ” R”Us, Mattel, P&G, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the B.

North Albany athlete Jonathan Loudon, 14, carried the Flame of Hope with five other athletes and 15 members of law enforcement through downtown Corvallis for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run.

The ceremony will be held from 1:40 to 2:40 p.m.

Thousand Oaks Police Chief Tim Hagel and Special Olympic athlete and final leg runner Nigel Davis will both speak at the ceremony.

A ceremony will start at 11 a.m., at 418 Main St. Law enforcement torch runner Nikos Angelakis from New Jersey will address the crowd, along with Special Olympic athlete and final leg runner Brett Laza.

Officers and athletes are selected, based on their dedication and commitment to the movement, by their local Special Olympics programs to be one of 126 Final Leg team members, Tigert explained.

“We would like to see as many people as we can get out there at City Plaza to let Special Olympics know that Chico supports their efforts”, said Chico police Sgt.

The Redlands High School Class of 2000 grad was one of nine ex- and current Terrier special-education students that participated in a half-mile run to celebrate the games, which are set to take place the weekend of July 25 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. “A girl chased me from my house a threw a huge stone at me because I had a disability”, Richard-Cleary says. “They’re really proud to represent their county”.

He said the determination he sees from Special Olympics athletes and their love for the games has helped fuel his involvement in the program. The team will represent the United States at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California, Saturday, July 25 to Sunday August 2.

“They’ve hit all 50 states”, Hernandez said of the torches.

The delegation will arrive on campus on Tuesday, July 21 to participate in four days of training sessions and social activities in Southern California designed to allow athletes to further bond as a team.

For more information about the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit LA2015.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.