Police and service personnel to guide Special Olympics Flame of Hope to National Games
Police and service personnel from towns and cities throughout New Zealand will show their support for Special Olympics
in coming weeks, by taking part in a series of torch runs leading to the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer
Games in Wellington in November.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is an important part of any big Special Olympics competition. Similar in style to
the Olympic torch relay, it is a series of runs and fundraising events, that raise awareness and money for the Special
Olympics movement. Globally more than 90,000 police professionals and supporters across 35 countries participate.
From 30 September to 24 November, LETR events will be held in 31 locations throughout New Zealand, culminating at the
National Summer Games in Wellington. 1300 athletes from 42 Special Olympics Clubs and three schools are set to take part
in the Games.
“The LETR is one of the highlights of major Special Olympics events, and this year we are excited that the torches will
travel to all regions and Clubs taking part in the National Summer Games,” said Kathy Gibson, Chief Executive for
Special Olympics New Zealand.
“As well as raising valuable awareness of Special Olympics in New Zealand, the LETR is also working to promote and
support our Athlete Leadership Programme (ALPs) – a programme that aims to provide athletes with the tools and
experiences to become leaders in their own right and to speak for themselves.
“The support of the New Zealand Police and other service personnel is hugely valued and we look forward to taking to the
streets with them as we move throughout the country!”
Inspector Mark Harrison, of Palmerston North, is Director of LETR NZ. “Once again we are delighted to be able to support
the build up to the National Summer games. Law Enforcement staff are proud to run alongside the athletes through our
communities as the “Flame of Hope” makes its way to the Games in Wellington.
The Flame represents so much of what policing is about – it stands for hope, courage, opportunity, inspiration and
equality.”
Held every four years, the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games is the largest event for athletes with
intellectual disabilities in New Zealand. The Games are run by Special Olympics New Zealand, which provides a year-round
programme of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, through 44 local
Clubs. It is a different organisation to Paralympics New Zealand, which supports people with physical disabilities to
compete in elite international para sport events.
Law Enforcement Torch Run events
Two torches will move throughout the country, starting in Kerikeri and Invercargill, and meeting in Wellington on 24
November.
Saturday 30 November: Kerikeri, Invercargill
Sunday 1 October: Whangarei
Tuesday 3 October: Dunedin
Thursday 5 October: Orewa, Oamaru
Friday 6 October: Takapuna, Timaru
Saturday 7 October: Henderson
Sunday 8 October: Auckland Central, Christchurch
Wednesday 11 October: Papakura
Wednesday 18 October: Paeroa
Saturday 21 October: Manukau, Nelson
Monday 23 October: Pukekohe
Wednesday 25 October: Blenheim and Picton
Friday 27 October: Greymouth
Saturday 28 October: Hamilton
Friday 3 November: New Plymouth
Saturday 4 November: Tauranga
Sunday 5 November: Hawera
Wednesday 8 November: Wanganui, Rotorua
Friday 10 November: Feilding
Saturday 11 November: Palmerston North, Taupo
Wednesday 15 November: Levin
Friday 17 November: Paraparaumu
Saturday 18 November: Porirua, Napier/Hasting
Sunday 19 November: Lower Hutt
Friday 24 November: Wellington
ENDS