Experiencia en Costa Rica Torch Run

Para mi fue una experiencia maravillosa al visitar San José de Costa Rica desde el sábado 22 al miércoles 26 de noviembre del año en curso, donde tuvo lugar la llegada de la LLAMA DE LA ESPERANZA coincidentemente con la inauguración de los Juegos Centroamericanos de Olimpiadas Especiales.

Fueron tres días de Carrera donde la Fuerza de Seguridad de Costa Rica, encabezado por RANDALL UMAÑA demostraron al pueblo costarricense el alto honor de transportar la Antorcha por los municpios de San José con gallardía, con deseos de servir a los atletas de Special Olympics. Asimismo cabe nombrar la destacada participación de la Sra. Ministra y Vice Ministra de Seguridad, el Señor Embajador de los EE.UU, los atletas especiales y los representantes de DHL en la Carrera y el apoyo del Señor Presidente de Costa Rica en la inauguración de los juegos.

Asimismo los que formamos parte de la Torch Run como Julio Vergara, Bill Buford, Anna Berke, Cerri de Cuattro, con el apoyo de Denis y Janine Quintero, hemos trabajado con mucho esmero para que la Carrera haya sido todo un éxito y me siento orgulloso de servir a los atletas especiales a través de la TORCH RUN. Este éxito se debe a la unión y dedicación de todos los integrantes.

Este trabajo que hemos realizado servirá para que la anhelada Región 14 América Latina sea una realidad a partir de marzo del 2009.

Atentamente.

Comisario Wilfrido Colmán Almada

Director de la Torch Run Paraguay

Wow. What a great day in Warsaw !!

I'm Jeremy Adams the Western European Torch Run Coordinator and along with Torch Run colleagues from Netherlands and GB I joined our Polish Torch Run friends in Warsaw on a cold Tuesday (18th Nov) for the Global Torch Run. There were over 200 runners and we all had our DHL uniforms on. I spoke with some of the Polish SO Athletes , who were the leading the run and it transpired that their coach had been in Belfast for the 2003 World Games. (I'm from Belfast). The athletes were great and we spoke the international language of sport and I learned that they played soccer, bocce and swimming. I also spoke with three other athletes, who were dressed in Polish white track suits and it was only after about 10 minutes talking with them, that I realised that they were at the Olympics in Beijing last year and that one of them had won a gold medal in gymnastics. They and the other 100 runners obviously knew that I didn't know who they were. They are Polish heroes !! Our run got underway at about 2.30pm and for the next couple of hours we met, amongst others the President , Prime Minster of Poland as well as the USA Counsel in Poland . It was a great experience before finishing up at a sports stadium to a waiting crowd of over 2000 people. The Torch Run was a great experience as it took us thorough the City Centre and to several famous places e.g Presidents Palace. I also got a chance to meet up with some of my SO and TR colleagues from Washington as well as making new friends in SO Poland, who had also been at a Special Olympics Conference in Romania prior to the run. I will remember that Special Day in Warsaw. Thanks to all, who made it happen !!

What an experience!

Hello everyone! My name is Kirk Grogan and I am a Special Olympic athlete and compete on the Coeur d’Alene team, which is located in North Idaho. I had the honor of going to Athens, Greece, with my mentor Brian Swehosky (who is a coach for Special Olympics Idaho), to accept the torch for the Winter World Games – the very torch that inspired me to join Special Olympics. Talk about an experience I will never forget!! During the days leading up to the official ceremony, we were able to ride a ferry on the way to Aegina, an island off the coast of Greece, take a short tour of Athens, and was able to taste a bunch of Greek food, which was good!
The day before we left was the official lighting ceremony, where yours truly was on stage and accepted the lit torch from Chip Fischer, CEO of the Winter World Games. A Greek athlete and I were able to then run through the city, along with numerous police officers, making our way to the US Embassy, where we lit a huge cauldron and had another ceremony.
Even though I was in Greece for just 5 days, it was some of the most memorable days I have had so far in my life and will never forget them. Thank you to all those who are making the 2009 Winter World Games happen and for the opportunity to represent Idaho and America over in Greece.

FANTASTIC GLOBAL TORCH RUN

Inspired Global Torch Run fanatic here, I just wanted to give a shout out to ALL Special Olympics' fans and Global Torch Run participants! I'm really glad that you're doing what you're doing. Its people like you guys that make me proud to say that I'm a supporter of Special Olympics.

To those of you who aren't fans...BECOME FANS...it's fantastic!

GLOBAL TORCH RUN 2008!

www.specialolympics.org

Global Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Kicks-Off

Today was an historic day for Special Olympics worldwide! We kicked off the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run - which is a three-month journey around the world where Special Olympics Athletes, law enforcement officers and DHL employees will deliver the Flame of Hope to 10 cities across five continents (more than 60,000 KMs!) leading up to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

The Flame of Hope is an incredible symbol that truly honors the spirit of the Special Olympics global movement and delivering a message of hope to communities where people with intellectual disabilities continue to fight for acceptance and a chance to excel without barriers.

I'm fortunate to work with several Special Olympics athletes and everyday they remind that there are no limitations to what can be accomplished when you set your mind to it.

I invite you all to follow the Flame of Hope as it travels around the world and read messages from Special Olympics athletes and fans that are making the journey with the Flame and others who are inspired by this historic event.

More news and photos will be added to www.specialolympics.org and you can also follow the Flame on a Virtual Map linked to this site!