The “Dignity Revolution” is alive in the Special Olympics Flame of Hope and as of this afternoon, it flickers on US soil.

Athens, Greece June 2011

My family witnessed the Flame of Hope light the Special Olympics cauldron in Athens, Greece at the last Special Olympics World Games in 2011. Though we are ecstatic to be once again present when the flame arrives in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this July, I have the honor of transporting it there!!! On the afternoon of June 3rd, I will run through my hometown of Flushing, New York with my lantern held high. Granted, it is just a brief leg in the inaugural Special Olympics Relay Across America presented by Bank of America, the symbolism of upholding all that the Special Olympics movement has done and will do for the differently abled is profound for me and my thousand or so teammates. Go Team LA or bust!

Athens, Greece May, 2015

THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS FLAME OF HOPE IS IGNITED IN ATHENS!

Begins its historic journey to the United States for the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles

ATHENS, GREECE 14 MAY 2015 — On Thursday, 14 May the Special Olympics Flame of Hope for the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015) was lit during a formal torch lighting ceremony. The torch was lit by the sun’s rays at the Sacred Site of Pnyx, opposite the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Present at the ceremony were H.E. President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopios Pavlopoulos, Special Olympics CEO Janet Froetscher, Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015) President and CEO Patrick McClenahan, Special Olympics Hellas President Joanna Despotopoulou , Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Final Leg Team members, Team Special Olympics Hellas and hundreds more dignitaries and guests.

“In just 73 days, this Flame of Hope will ignite the cauldron in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, “said Patrick McClenahan, LA2015 President and CEO. “It will signify the start of the largest event Los Angeles has hosted since 1984, the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world this year, and, we believe, one of the most inspirational events of all time.”

After the Flame of Hope was lit, Patrick McClenahan handed the torch to Final Leg Team member and Special Olympics Southern California athlete Brett Laza and Special Olympics Hellas athlete Theano Dilaveraki. Members of law enforcement along with Special Olympics athletes then carried the Flame of Hope through the streets of Athens to the residence of US Ambassador David Pearce, where a ceremony was held. Following the events, the Flame of Hope was entrusted to the Presidential Guard for safe keeping until it begins its journey to the United States.

The Flame of Hope will then begin its trans-Atlantic journey via UPS Airlines, which will transport the Flame of Hope to Washington, D.C., in time for the start of the Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America, which will kick-off on 26 May. The Flame of Hope’s journey aboard a UPS aircraft begins in Athens, Greece on 18 May, followed by a stopover at the UPS hub at Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany then continuing on to Philadelphia, USA and arriving on 19 May, when the flame will then be transferred to a UPS alternative fuel vehicle to travel to the Special Olympics headquarters offices in Washington, D.C