Experience the Torch Run Through This Video Presentation in .wmv format
From Bonners Ferry to Wendell, American Falls to Weiser, Idahoans will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to welcome the world as they greet the Flame of Hope, and support the final leg team of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics World Winter Games.
Runners and athletes from all over the world will escort the Flame of Hope through Idaho, beginning January 29th, and ending at the 2009 World Winter Games Opening Ceremony in Nampa, at the Idaho Center, February 7th.
The Torch Run teams will take three separate routes through the Gem State so dozens of schools and communities can welcome the teams and participate in local Torch Run ceremonies (please see attached schedule for dates, times, and locations).
“We in Idaho law enforcement are proud to share with the citizens of this great state, the excitement and honor of being able to host the Special Olympics World Winter Games,“ said Jim Kerns, Deputy Chief of the Boise Police Department, and organizer of the final leg Torch Run through Idaho.
“These law enforcement runners and Special Olympics athletes have come from all around the world to experience our warm Idaho hospitality. We know that after meeting these amazing athletes, Idahoans will be thrilled to cheer them on with the friendly, competitive spirit that makes the Special Olympics so incredible.” Said Deputy Chief Kerns.
Again, on behalf of law enforcement officers throughout Idaho and the world, and all our Special Olympics athletes, Idahoans are invited to take part in their local Torch Run ceremonies!
Facts about the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics:
• Final Leg team through Idaho consists of 118 members; 80 law enforcement, 10 Special Olympics Athletes, other support staff.
• Law enforcement officers participating in the Final Leg run through Idaho come from nearly all the states of the US, plus Canada, Austria, Bulgaria, Chinese Taipei, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, New South Wales, Poland, Australia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
• Between January 29th and February 6th, the Torch Run will make stops at literally dozens of Idaho schools, libraries, businesses, and other community gathering places, sharing the excitement of the World Winter Games.
• In Idaho, the Law Enforcement Torch Run raises between $60,000 and $100,000 each year for Idaho’s Special Olympics athletes!
• Since the Torch Run began in Witchita, Kansas in 1981, it’s become the single largest grass-roots fundraising and public awareness effort for the Special Olympics.
• In 2007 alone, the Torch Run raised more than $30 million for Special Olympics program worldwide.
• This is the first time since 2001 that the Special Olympics World games have been in the United States, and the first time ever the games have been held in Idaho.
The ceremony times and locations follow. The public is encouraged to be at any of the ceremonies!
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29th ROUTE 1 CANADIAN BORDER TEAMS 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
830 Coeur d'Alene Resort, Michael Teem, North Carolina, Ben Rigby, Idaho
900 Coeur d'Alene Library, Arnold Morgado, Idaho, Paula Morrissy, South Australia
1220 Canadian Border, Dave Kramer, Idaho, Ben Rigby, Idaho
1410 Bonners Ferry, Christopher Cavallaro, New Hampshire, Christopher Paynter, Oklahoma
1610 Sandpoint, Larry Mays, New Jersey, Jason Reinhold, Michigan
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29th ROUTE 2 SILVER VALLEY TEAMS 1, 2, 3, 4
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
830 Coeur d'Alene Resort, Michael Teem, North Carolina, Ben Rigby, Idaho
900 Coeur d'Alene Library, Arnold Morgado, Idaho, Paula Morrissy, South Australia
1050 Pinehurst PD, Warren Dunlap, Georgia, Amara Coon, Hawaii
1220 Kellogg Middle School, June Worden, New York, Alan Fry, Jr., Southern California
1330 Silver Hills Elementary, Petr Matlach, Czech Republic, James Neeson, Ireland
1435 Wallace HS, Kenneth McLaughlin, Delaware, Van Pexa, New Mexico
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30th ALL TEAMS
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
825 Steins IGA, Jerri James, South Carolina, Aaron Aarseth, Oregon
945 Post Falls PD, Steven Janus, Wisconsin, Christopher Paynter, Oklahoma
1325 Lewiston Locomotive Park, Jeff Franzen, Iowa, Jason Reinhold, Michigan
1500 Moscow HS, Orhan Sinav, Turkey, Nathan West, Queensland
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1st ALL TEAMS
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
1035 Morey's Steakhouse, George Huang, Chinese Taipei, Paula Morrissy, South Australia
1300 Wilson Theatre, Markus Gloessl, Austria, Amara Coon, Hawaii
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd ROUTE 1 MALAD TEAMS 1, 6, 7, 9
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
905 Preston HS, Robert Miller, New Mexico, Paula Morrissy, South Australia
1100 Malad HS, Eric Abt, Arizona, Christopher Paynter, Oklahoma
1145 Malad Elementary, Myles Burke, Nova Scotia, Nathan West, Queensland
1330 Mountain View Elementary, Bill Proll, Southern California, Amara Coon, Hawaii
1515 ISU, Todd Martens, Kansas, Paula Morrissy, South Australia
1710 Chubbuck City Hall, Kajanda Love, Illinois, Christopher Paynter, Oklahoma
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd ROUTE 2 SODA SPRINGS TEAMS 2, 4, 8
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
1000 Bear Lake MS, Kevin Stary, Nebraska, Alan Fry, Jr., Southern California
1200 Soda Springs City Park, Jeff Miller, South Dakota, Van Pexa, New Mexico
1415 Inkom Elementary, Robert O'Connor, Massachusett,s Jason Reinhold, Michigan
1550 Pocatello City Hall, Wendy O'Neill, Queensland, Alan Fry, Jr., Southern California
1710 Chubbuck City Hall, Jacek Hachulski, Poland, Van Pexa, New Mexico
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd ROUTE 3 ST. ANTHONY TEAMS 3, 5, 10
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
830 South Freemont HS, David Hebert, Rhode Island, James Neeson, Ireland
1000 Madison HS, Derek Pike, Newfoundland/Labrador, Ben Rigby, Idaho
1150 Rigby HS, Bob Stonis, Pennyslvania, Aaron Aarseth, Oregon
1330 Bonneville Cty Courthouse, Karleen Schenkey, Alberta, James Neeson, Ireland
1500 Shelley HS, Tom Miller, Minnesota, Ben Rigby, Idaho
1640 Jensen Grove, Douglas Attard, Gibraltar, Aaron Aarseth, Oregon
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd ROUTE 1 AMERICAN FALLS TEAMS 1, 2, 3
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
940 Hillcrest Grade School, Stephen Noftz, Ohio, Amara Coon, Hawaii
1300 Kimberly HS, Daniel Ritchie, British Columbia, Alan Fry, Jr., Southern California
1530 CSI Fine Arts Building, Arnold Morgado, Idaho & Daniel Tam, Hong Kong, James Neeson, Ireland
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd ROUTE 2 SHOSHONE TEAMS 4, 5, 6
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
1020 Shoshone HS, Danielle Bradshaw-Lee, Maryland, Van Pexa, New Mexico
1140 Jerome HS, Darin Sweeten, Utah, Paula Morrissy, South Australia
1530 CSI Fine Arts Building, Arnold Morgado, Idaho & Daniel Tam, Hong Kong, James Neeson, Ireland
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd ROUTE 3 WENDELL TEAMS 7, 8, 9, 10
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
1050 Wendell HS, Carl Dabadie, Louisiana, Nathan West, Queensland
1225 Gooding HS, Rikicia Robinson, Texas, Jason Reinhold, Michigan
1530 CSI Fine Arts Building, Arnold Morgado, Idaho & Daniel Tam, Hong Kong, James Neeson, Ireland
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4th ROUTE 1 SUN VALLEY TEAMS 7, 8, 9, 10
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
900 Dollar Mountain, Gary Gordan, Republic of Ireland, Nathan West, Queensland
1015 Wood River MS, Chester Kau, Hawaii, Nathan West, Queensland
1200 Woodside Elementary, Carla Culbreth, Alaska, Christopher Paynter, Oklahoma
1645 Boise City Hall, Dimitris Kokkalakis, Greece & Arnold Morgado, Idaho, Aaron Aarseth, Oregon
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4th ROUTE 2 Glenns Ferry TEAMS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
900 Dollar Mountain Gary Gordan, Republic of Ireland Nathan West, Queensland
1230 Glenns Ferry HS Steve Douglas, Northern Ireland James Neeson, Ireland
1515 Mountain Home Jr. High Bryan Keller, Washington Amara Coon, Hawaii
1645 Boise City Hall Dimitris Kokkalakis, Greece & Arnold Morgado, Idaho Aaron Aarseth, Oregon
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5th ROUTE 1 EMMETT TEAMS 1, 4, 8
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
915 Emmett HS, Michelle Hill, Arkansas, Van Pexa, New Mexico
1125 Weiser HS, Daniel Meadows, Indiana, Jason Reinhold, Michigan
1240 Payette HS, Grant Holle, Montana, Amara Coon, Hawaii
1345 Fruitland HS, Milcho Enev, Bulgaria, Van Pexa, New Mexico
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5th ROUTE 2 MCCALL TEAMS 2, 7, 10
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
930 Payette Lakes MS, Scott Mercier, Maine, Alan Fry, Jr., Southern California
1100 Cascade HS, Jack Harris, Vermont, Christopher Paynter, Oklahoma
1300 Horseshoe Bend HS, Wayne Giertuga, Ontario, Aaron Aarseth, Oregon
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5th ROUTE 3 PARMA TEAMS 3, 5, 6, 9
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
900 Parma HS, Ron Leonard, Colorado, Nathan West, Queensland
1025 Caldwell HS, Bob Chandler, Great Britain, James Neeson, Ireland
1215 Middleton HS, Ron Littell, Jr, Connecticut, Paula Morrissy, South Australia
1415 Star Elementary, Toon van Osta, Netherlands, Ben Rigby, Idaho
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6th ROUTE 1 BOISE PD TEAMS 1, 6, 7
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
850 Boise PD, Johanne Lesage, Quebec, Amara Coon, Hawaii
940 Borah HS, Kevin Sweeney, Michigan, Paula Morrissy, South Australia
1050 Horizon Elementary, John Chrisinger, Virginia, Christopher Paynter, Oklahoma
1145 Centennial HS, Benjamin McFarlane, New South Wales, Amara Coon, Hawaii
1230 West YMCA, Lisa Walter, Wisconsin, Paula Morrissy, South Australia
1400 Eagle HS, Patrick "Rick" Hayes, Missouri, Christopher Paynter, Oklahoma
1540 Boys & Girls Club, Patrick Finan, Florida, Aaron Aarseth, Oregon
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6th ROUTE 2 NORTH BOISE TEAMS 2, 3, 8, 9
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
825 South Jr. High, Gerald Riggins, Jr., Alabama, Nathan West, Queensland
920 Hawthorne Elementary, Bill Lyons, North Carolina, Alan Fry, Jr., Southern California
1035 Timberline HS, Mark Van Schie, Manitoba, James Neeson, Ireland
1145 Boise HS, John Sanchez, Manitoba, Jason Reinhold, Michigan
1245 Washington Elementary, Michael Kavenius, Wyoming, Nathan West, Queensland
1350 Whittier Elementary, Chris Bowman, West Virginia, Jason Reinhold, Michigan
1540 Boys & Girls Club, Patrick Finan, Florida, Aaron Aarseth, Oregon
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6th ROUTE 3 KUNA TEAMS 4, 5, 10
TIME LOCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT SPEAKER SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPEAKER
800 Kuna HS, Dixon Andrews, Oregon, Ben Rigby, Idaho
915 Idaho POST Academy, Maria Salidou, Cyprus, Aaron Aarseth, Oregon
1030 Meridian City Hall, Vassilenko Yuriy, Kazakhstan Van Pexa, New Mexico
1145 Mountain View HS, Shawn Byrne, Oklahoma, Ben Rigby, Idaho
1350 Nampa HS, Steven Janus, Wisconsin, Van Pexa, New Mexico
1540 Boys & Girls Club, Patrick Finan, Florida, Aaron Aarseth, Oregon