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(San Francisco, California USA) — Law enforcement officers from throughout the world will gather 21-23 November 2003 in support of Special Olympics for the Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run® International Conference at the Westin St. Francis at Union Square. Nearly 800 officers from more than 13 countries, including Palestine, Hong Kong and Ukraine will come together in San Francisco, California, for four days to exchange ideas, learn new ways to raise money for Special Olympics and celebrate their dedication to the Movement. The Law Enforcement Torch Run, Special Olympics’ largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle, has raised more than US$19 million in 2003 alone.
“The Law Enforcement Torch Run is so much more than just an incredible fundraiser,” said Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver. “It’s also the generosity, courage and spirit of the officers and athletes who run together down city streets and country roads to world-class stadiums and small community fields around the world. Carrying the ‘Flame of Hope’ together, they are the very embodiment of our vision of a new and better world of inclusion and acceptance for all people.”
The event will begin Friday, 21 November, with an Opening Ceremony at 9 a.m. (PST) with special remarks by San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. Conference sessions will begin that afternoon and continue throughout the weekend. In addition to daily seminars and training sessions, officers will participate in Special Olympics Unified Sports® events and demonstrations of successful fundraising events including a polar plunge and trolley car pull. Special Olympics Unified Sports brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities who train and compete on the same teams.
Officers also will celebrate this year’s hugely successful “Final Leg” Torch Run through more than 15 cities in Europe prior to the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, in June. The celebration will be particularly meaningful for delegations of officers from Japan and China attending the conference. The 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games will take place in Nagano, Japan, and the 2007 World Summer Games will be held in Shanghai, China.
Founded in 1981, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® is an international series of torch relays run by law enforcement officers that lead up to each state, province or nation’s Special Olympics Games. With the support of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Premier International Sponsor CARQUEST Auto Parts, officers raise money in conjunction with their Torch Runs for their local Special Olympics Programs. Nearly 85,000 law enforcement officers have carried the “Flame of Hope,” raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics. The Torch Run is now active in more than 35 countries around the world.
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