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| Ames will host Lighting of the Flame Ceremony for 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games |
| Tuesday, June 29, 2010 |
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The morning of Sunday, July 11 will be filled with pride, excitement and historic ceremony. This is when the city of Ames and Iowa State University will host the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Final Leg Kickoff Ceremony.
“This is an important day and it will long be remembered by Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) athletes, their families, the community of Ames and many others,” said SOIA President and CEO Mark A. Reed.
The event takes place at the Iowa State Center Courtyard by the Scheman Building in Ames. Breakfast starts at 10 a.m., followed by the official ceremony at 11 a.m. The Lighting of the Flame Ceremony begins the Final Leg as the Flame of Hope ™ is carried by law enforcement officials and Special Olympics athletes to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where the torch crosses into Nebraska. It will make 70 stops across Nebraska during the week before it arrives in Lincoln for the 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games July 18-23.
The public is invited to attend the breakfast and Lighting of the Flame Ceremony. Tickets for the breakfast are five dollars per adult, $10 for families, and children under the age of 12 are free. Interested persons are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance by contacting the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau at 515-232-4032, Special Olympics Iowa at 515-986-5520 or from any member of the Rotary Club of Ames. Tickets will also be available to purchase at the event.
“July 11 is symbolic not only to Ames and Iowa State University, but also as a new tradition that represents the highly successful first-ever Special Olympics USA National Games held in Ames in 2006,”said SOIA Board Chair Elaine Hieber.
“The Olympic flame symbolizes the light of spirit, knowledge and life,” said Hieber. “The Special Olympics Flame of Hope, in the entrusted care of the law enforcement community, symbolizes the courage and celebration of diversity that the Special Olympics movement represents.”
Members of SOIA’s Team Iowa will be present for the ceremony. Team Iowa consists of 86 athletes, 26 coaches and 5 support staff. They will join nearly 3,000 athletes from across the U.S. later in the week during the National Games in Lincoln. To learn more about the LETR Final Leg, please visit the National Games website at www.2010specialolympics.org/page13233.asp.
Reed also noted that 65 law enforcement officers and nine Special Olympics athletes from across the U.S. will be running as a team at 7:20 p.m. during the Midnight Madness Ames Annual Road Race on Saturday, July 10.
Officers from the Law Enforcement Torch Final Leg and Special Olympics athletes from across the U.S. will be making stops with the torch at the following Hy-Vee Stores on July 11.
- 12:45 p.m. West Des Moines Hy-Vee at 1725 Jordan Creek Parkway
- 1:45 p.m. – Atlantic Hy-Vee
- 2:30 p.m. – Council Bluffs Hy-Vee
- 4:00 p.m. – Torch crossing in Council Bluffs to Nebraska
Contributed by Special Olympics Iowa
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