The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is to
raise funds for and awareness of the Special Olympics movement worldwide.
the world, carry the Flame of Hope in honor of Special Olympics athletes in
their areas. (Photo courtesy of Emory University Police Department.)
The Special Olympics
GA summer games
kicked off Friday with
the Law Enforcement
stop at the Emory
University stadium.
(Photo courtesy of
Emory University
Police Department.)
Athletes proudly
wear their medals
run that kicked
off the Special
Olympics event at
Emory University.
(Photo courtesy of
Johns Creek Police
Department)
Local Agencies Participate in Special Olympics
Georgia’s Law Enforcement Torch Run
Each year, law enforcement ocers from around the state
raise money for Special lympics Georgia SGA by
organizing the aw nforcement Torch Run TR. Since
196, when the Georgia Torch Run GTR began, it has grown
consistently every year thereaer. n 201, law enforcement
ocers raised more than 1 million in Georgia alone. Through
the combined eorts of hundreds of law enforcement volunteers
throughout the state, TR has contributed more than 12
million to Special lympics athletes in Georgia since its incepon.
The mission of the TR for Special lympics is to raise funds
for and awareness of the Special lympics movement worldwide.
aw nforcement ocers from every state, and more than 60
countries around the world, carry the Flame of Hope in honor of
Special lympics athletes in their areas.
TR involves hundreds of law enforcement ocers from
agencies throughout the state who take part in a 1,000mile,
twoweek torch relay to pass the SGA Flame of Hope’ across
the state. All of the relays converge in Atlanta in May each year
for the lighng of the cauldron during the SGA State Summer
Games pening Ceremony at mory University.
ach year, ocers raise funds for the honor of being a torch
bearer in the GTR. The top ve fundraising departments have
the honor of running the Flame of Hope’ into the pening
Ceremony, and the top fundraising department will light the
cauldron to signify the beginning of the Georgia Special lympics
20 | June 2019 | Real Hero Report
Summer Games Summer Games. A total of approimately
17,000 was raised by these departments this year.
This year, 1 agencies parcipated, and athletes had the
opportunity to run alongside the ocers. Seeing the ocers and
athletes run through their towns carrying the torch and bearing
that support for SGA was quite a sight to see.
The nal leg of the 2019 Torch Run took place on May 17,
2019, where more than 60 TR members and athletes carried
the Flame of Hope six miles through Atlanta, spreading the
message of inclusion.
The nal leg ended at mory University to kick o Summer
Games. ater that night at the opening ceremonies, the top ve
fundraising departments had the honor of lighng the cauldron
with the athletes to signify the beginning of the Summer Games.
The lighng of the torch is always a very excing part of Summer
Games. The runners were escorted in by motor units from
throughout the state, and then an TR member, along with a
nominated athlete, each carried the torch for a leg of the GTR,
leading up to the cauldron on stage. The athletes beamed with
excitement when they saw the ocers out there with them. The
ocers took pictures with, danced with, and signed autographs
for the athletes, and they really ust let loose and had a great
me with them. The ocers were ust as excited and inspired
to spend me with the athletes during Summer Games as the
athletes were to have them there.