Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Final Leg During a Final Leg, law enforcement officers desire to fulfill their role as “Guardians of the Flame” by maintaining the flame lit in Greece until the lighting of the cauldron at the World Games Opening Ceremonies. Every two years, law enforcement officers from around the world gather to carry the "Flame of Hope" in a Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg® in honor of the Special Olympics World Summer or World Winter Games. The Torch Run Final Leg is not only a salute to the athletes who compete in the Special Olympics World Games, but also an honor for the participating law enforcement officers who make up the Torch Run Final Leg Team. Read about 2007 Global Torch Run Read about the 2005 Final Leg in Japan Read about the 2003 Final Leg across Europe Leading the way on the Northern Route to Nagano during the 2005 Final Leg in Japan are Special Olympics Ireland athlete runner Mary Murphy and Captain Joseph Carlone, from Connecticut (USA). [Photo by Wataru Abe/Photo Kishimoto] Final Legs can also be a series of torch relays that lead up to a state, provincial, national or regional Special Olympics Summer Games. Visit the Regional Games section of this Web site and click on any of the worldwide events for information on some of the 2006 activities. The Final Leg starts when, in the ancient Olympic tradition, the flame for the Special Olympics World Games is ignited by the rays of the sun opposite the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. This symbolic flame, protected in miner’s lamps, travels to the site of the World Games, where law enforcement officers, representing their state, province or nation, act as “Guardians of the Flame” and carry the "Flame of Hope" (Special Olympics torch) to the Opening Ceremonies of the Games. Senior Detective Paivi Puhakka of Pori, Finland (left) and Lieutenant Jeff Miller of Brookings, South Dakota, USA hold "The Flame of Hope" aloft during the 2003 Final Leg prior to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland. [Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan, IRELAND OUT] Final Leg Mission Create awareness and excitement for Special Olympics and World Games Encourage support and attendance of World Games Proudly represent law enforcement and Torch Run programs worldwide as a symbol of our deep commitment to the athletes of Special Olympics as we serve as ambassadors for law enforcement, Special Olympics and the World Games Make athlete involvement a vital part of the Final Leg (in addition to having Special Olympics athletes as a part of the Final Leg Team, our goal is to highlight foreign delegations via the Host Town Program as well as local athletes at ceremonies) Fulfill our role as “Guardians of the Flame” by maintaining the flame lit in Greece until the lighting of the cauldron at the World Games Opening Ceremonies Develop a media relations strategy to publicize and promote the Final Leg and World Games to the fullest extent Place emphasis on creating and planning the best ceremony possible in every community to help fulfill the mission of the Final Leg Involve, inspire and motivate runners to increase their level of commitment to Special Olympics when they return to their local programs.