2007 World Summer Games "Flame of Hope" Arrives in United States on Global Journey to Shanghai, China President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush Welcome Special Olympics at White House Ceremony Delivered by DHL, Official Global Partner of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, the "Flame of Hope" arrived in Washington, D.C., on 25 July 2007. A DHL truck delivered the flame in its protective miner's map to Special Olympics international headquarters, where it was signed for by Special Olympics athlete and employee Garrett Barnes. Lt. John Newnan of the Howard County (Maryland) Police Department, who is the Law Enforcement Torch Run Region II Coordinator, served as Guardian of the Flame. Hans Hickler, CEO of DHL Express USA, presented the miner's lamp to Barnes and Special Olympics North America Managing Director Bob Gobrecht. Special Olympics athletes and law enforcement officers from China and the United States welcomed the "Flame of Hope" to Washington, DC. Left-right: Li Yunyun, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau; Zhao Zengzen, Special Olympics China Athlete; Lt. John Newnan, Howard County (Maryland) Police Department; Qiao Meili, Special Olympics China athlete; and Lv Yingje, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau (Photo by Paul Morigi) The "Flame of Hope" stayed at Special Olympics headquarters overnight until 26 July, when it was officially greeted by U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. The Special Olympics torch was lit from the flame and, following the ceremony, was carried through the streets of the U.S. capital by a team of Special Olympics athletes and law enforcement personnel to begin the U.S. segment of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run event. The event took place on the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. 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. Special Olympics Virginia athlete David Egan with Hans Hickler, CEO of DHL Express USA. DHL is the Official Global Partner of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. [Photo by Paul Morigi] Following the White House ceremony, the Special Olympics athletes and law enforcement officers ran the torch through the city, passing the National Mall, the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, concluding at the Embassy for the People's Republic of China. "The law enforcement community is committed and honored to support Special Olympics at every opportunity, and the partnership we have had with Special Olympics for 26 years has truly made a difference in the lives of thousands of Special Olympics athletes," said Major Michael Teem, an officer with the Raleigh, North Carolina, Police Department and chair of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Council. "We are excited to be a part of the events in Washington, D.C., and continuing our role as guardians of the 'Flame of Hope.'" The "Flame of Hope" was lit on 29 June at a ceremony at the sacred site of Pnyx near the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, marking the start of its global journey to the site of the World Games, supported by the logistics expertise of DHL. "Sponsoring and supporting the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games provides DHL with a unique opportunity to leverage the resources of its network of hubs and gateways to provide the flexible, creative logistics solutions," said Hickler. "Engineering a solution to transport the flame has not only promoted our 'can-do' spirit at DHL, it provides a wonderful opportunity for DHL to demonstrate our strong commitment to Special Olympics." 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. Return to Global Torch Run home page