FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 January  2009

Law Enforcement Officers
Carry "Flame of Hope"

Retired Montana law enforcement officer from Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Grant Holle has been selected to deliver the "Flame of Hope" to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise Idaho. Grant is one of 93 runners from 20 countries participating in the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics. "To me, it is a dream coming true. To be around the best people in the world and knowing that the effort put into the Torch Run is all worth it" Grant states about his participation in the Final Leg.

The 2009 Final Leg will precede the Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Boise, Idaho. From January 29 through February 6, the Final Leg Team will conduct extensive runs and ceremonies in all of the Host Town Program communities and in many other towns throughout Idaho to heighten awareness of Special Olympics and the World Games. The Final Leg will conclude with the lighting of the cauldron at Opening Ceremonies of the 2009 World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho on February 7.

The Final Leg Team is comprised of law enforcement runners, Special Olympics athletes, and Support Team members. Final Leg runners were chosen from Torch Run Programs from throughout the World. Nomination forms were sent to Programs in the summer of 2008 and runners were selected in the fall of 2008. Ten Special Olympics athletes were also selected to be a part of the Final Leg Team in 2009 using the same timeline as law enforcement participants.

The Flame of Hope began its journey on 12 November 2008 with a lighting ceremony in Athens, Greece. In accordance with Olympic tradition dating back to the Ancient Greeks, the Special Olympics' torch was lit by the sun’s rays near Olympia, Greece and will remain lit until the end of the World Winter Games on 13 February. "The Flame of Hope's historic trip around the world is symbolic of our global mission to deliver inspiration and hope to Special Olympics athletes and their families, break down barriers to equality and create awareness for social change worldwide," said Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics. "We are fortunate to be able to deliver the flame and everything it stands for – hope, courage, opportunity, inspiration and equality – to our athletes because of the experience and expertise of our partner in this initiative." After stopping in eight cities on four continents, including Athens, Dubai, Johannesburg, San Jose and Shanghai, the flame arrived on U.S. soil in Miami Florida. The flame then traveled to New York City and Washington, D.C., where it was a part of the 56th Presidential Inaugural Parade. It will make a stop in Los Angeles as it makes its way to Boise, Idaho.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run® is the largest grass-roots fundraiser for Special Olympics programs in the world. In 2008, the Torch Run raised over $34 million for Special Olympics world wide. Every two years, law enforcement officers and athletes representing their state's or nation’s Torch Run programs are give the distinction of making the Final Leg team that carries the Special Olympics "Flame of Hope" to the World Games.

For more on the games, visit http://www.2009worldgames.org/ 

More on the Final Leg, click here: http://www.specialolympics.org/flame_of_hope.aspx

For detailed information and map, download this pdf brochure. TorchRunFinalLeg.pdf

Contact:Terri Sappington,
Law Enforcement Torch Run Coordinator
tsappington@somt.org