U.S. President Bush Welcomes the 2007 World Games “Flame of Hope” to the White House The North America leg of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run was launched in Washington, D.C., on 26 July in a historic first Rose Garden ceremony at the White House, honoring the Special Olympics movement. [Follow the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run.] President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush welcomed Special Olympics athletes and law enforcement officers from China and across the United States as well as Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and a delegation from China, including Liu Peng, Minister of Sports. "The Torch Run reflects the work these officers do every day," said First Lady Laura Bush in her remarks at a White House Rose Garden ceremony welcoming the Special Olympics "Flame of Hope" to Washington, DC. "Our law enforcement officers protect the rights and dignity of each person, and they make our communities welcoming places, where everyone can make the most of his or her talents." In his remarks, President Bush said that he supported Special Olympics Texas while he was Governor of that state. “I was inspired then and I continue to be inspired by the determination and courage of Special Olympics athletes. Over four decades, Special Olympics has changed the lives of millions of people across the world. And we're proud to note that this noble mission began right here in America. And let me just say, I believe it is a fitting testimony to this country, that was based upon ideals of inclusion and acceptance and hope, that the Games we honor today began right here in our country. Today, we look proudly on 'The Flame of Hope,' which symbolizes the dreams of millions.” President Bush also announced that U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings will lead the impressive delegation to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. After the President's remarks, Major Michael Teem, Raleigh (North Carolina) Police Department and Chief Russ Laine, Algonguin (Illinois) Police Department, lit the Torch from the miner's lamp, which was delivered from London, the previous stop on the Global Torch Run, by DHL Global Partner of the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes then began the Torch Run throughout Washington, D.C. Along the route, the runners traveled down the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol Building. They made a stop at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where they were greeted by Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt. Left to right: Chief Russ Laine, Algonquin (Illinois) Police Department, and Law Enforcement Torch Run Chairman Major Michael Teem, Raleigh (North Carolina) Police Department, light the Special Olympics torch held by Special Olympics Virginia Athlete Karen Dickerson and Special Olympics China athlete Qiao Meili. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush welcomed the "Flame of Hope" to a White House Rose Garden ceremony marking the start of the North American leg of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run leading up to the 2007 World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Paul Morigi) From there they passed the Capitol on their way to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The memorial honors all of America's federal, state and local law enforcers; inscribed on the memorial's marble walls are the names of more than 17,500 officers who have been killed in the line of duty, dating back to the first known death in 1792. The Law Enforcement Torch Runners each placed a rose on the memorial. The last stop on the run through Washington was the Chinese Embassy, where a crowd waving U.S. and Chinese flags and colorful lion dancers greeted the flame. The law enforcement officer runners passed the torch to Zheng Zeguang, Charge d'Affaires of the embassy, who officially greeted the Global Torch Run. He then passed the torch to two Special Olympics athletes - Karen Dickerson from Special Olympics Virginia and Qiao Meili from Special Olympics China - who lit a cauldron in front of the embassy. Runners and guests enjoyed a program of speeches and music as the embassy hosted a reception in honor of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run and in anticipation of the 2007 World Summer Games in Shanghai. Washington, D.C, is the fourth stop of its 22,000-mile journey across the world in the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run, the first time the "Flame of Hope" has traveled the globe in a single event. The Global Torch Run is being facilitated by DHL, the world's largest express delivery and logistics company. The flame will travel across five continents in its journey to Shanghai, China, where it will be used to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which take place from 2-11 October. The flame will next make its way to Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney. The final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run will include stops in Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, and 11 cities in China as well as the 19 districts of Shanghai, where it will be carried by more than 200 law enforcement officers from around the world. Special Olympics Virginia athlete Karen Dickerson (in red) and law enforcement officers from across the United States carry the Special Olympics "Flame of Hope" in the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run through Washington, DC, on Thursday, 26 July 2007, following a ceremony hosted by President and First Lady Bush in the White House Rose Garden. DHL is the Global Partner of the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. (Photo by Paul Morigi) [Photo Gallery] Return to Global Torch Run main page