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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
21 September 2007
Local Law Enforcement Officer to Carry the “Flame of Hope” to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games
(Great Falls, 21 Sept 2007) Local Law Enforcement Officer, Lt Michael Pfau with the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office has been selected to deliver the “Flame of Hope” to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. Mike will be one of 103 officers participating in the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics.
The first-ever Global Law Enforcement Torch Run began with the ignition of the “Flame of Hope” and the lighting of the torch in Athens, Greece on June 29th 2007. From there the torch traveled to Alexandria and Cairo Egypt, to London and on to Washington DC for a reception and ceremony hosted by President Bush and the First Lady in the Rose Garden of the White House. From Washington, the torch will continue traveling around the globe with stops in Asia and Australia to highlight the 2007 World Summer Games before arriving in Beijing, China on September 26th.
The Final Leg is made up of 103 Law Enforcement Officers, 11 Special Olympics athletes and 13 Support Team Members from around the world. They will serve as Guardians of the Flame as they receive the “Flame of Hope” on September 26th in Beijing. To symbolize the significant contribution of the law enforcement and the inclusion of Special Olympics athletes in this unified Torch Run, the Final Leg Team will conduct runs and ceremonies in the 19 districts of Shanghai to heighten awareness of Special Olympics and the World Games. The Final Leg Team will safely deliver the Flame of Hope to the 2007 World Games Opening Ceremony in Shanghai on October 2nd, where the cauldron will be lit and the Games will be declared open.
 The Law Enforcement Torch Run® is the largest grass-roots fundraiser for Special Olympics programs in the world. Every two years, law enforcement officers and athletes representing their state’s or nation’s Torch Run programs are given the distinction of making the Final Leg team that carries the Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” to the World Games. The Final Leg has a 20 year history of serving as pre-event ambassadors for the World Games. This year, eleven Final Leg teams will carry the torch through the major cities in China and hold ceremonies to tell hundreds of thousands of people what Special Olympics is all about.
Lt Mike Pfau has been a volunteer with the Montana Law Enforcement Torch Run for 21 years. Mike goes on to say, “Being selected by the International Law Enforcement Torch Run Committee to participate in the 2007 Torch Run Final Leg in China is one of the proudest moments of my 21 year law enforcement career. To represent Montana's Law Enforcement Torch Run Program, the county of Missoula, the state of Montana and the United States is a once in a life time blessing. The cross country journey from Beijing to Shanghai promises to be challenging, exciting and rewarding. I look forward to taking a piece of the "Big Sky Country" to China and sharing it with the 80 million Chinese people we will encounter. I am grateful to all of you who support Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. I am able to be part of this momentous occasion because of your continued support. I wish to extend a heart felt thanks to each and everyone of you!" The Montana Law Enforcement Torch Run nominated Mike to participate in the Final Leg for the 2007 World Summer Games. Mike will be a wonderful representative of the Montana Law Enforcement Torch Run.
About
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to 2.5 million adults and children with intellectual disabilities across 165 countries. The Special Olympics movement offers one of the world's greatest platforms for acceptance and inclusion for all people-regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or cultural differences. Find out how you can become involved at www.somt.org
Contact: Terri Sappington
Law Enforcement Torch Run Coordinator
Special Olympics Montana
800-242-6876
tsappington@somt.org
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