Special Olympics Flame of Hope comes to Tupelo

MADISON, Miss.(Submitted) — Mississippians will help carry the Flame of Hope across the state as it heads toward Los Angeles for the 2015 World Games in the first-ever Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America, presented by Bank of America.

Over the course of 46 days, in a hand-to-hand exchange, thousands of participants will run, walk or bike a segment of the relay in this team and individual fundraising event as it passes through all 50 states. The relay will culminate at the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles on July 25, 2015.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for every citizen to carry the Flame of Hope through their communities where it will light the cauldron that burns during the Games,” said Special Olympics CEO Janet Froetscher. “As the torch makes its way across our country, it will bring us together in a unique way that will open hearts and minds.”

The torch that lights the Olympic flame will pass through Mississippi in June and spend two days in Northeast Mississippi on June 9-10. Special Olympics will host a celebration at Fairpark in Tupelo featuring live music, athletic demonstrations and special guests Mayor Jason Shelton and athlete Taylor Rosenthal on Tuesday, June 9 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

“Every four years, Special Olympics athletes from Mississippi join competitors from around the globe at the World Games,” said Tony Bahou, President and CEO of Special Olympics Mississippi. “We are excited to have Taylor Rosenthal of Shannon represent the state to the international community with his father and unified partner athlete, Bill Rosenthal, as a competitor in golf, while Brandon native Kyle Dutiel will participate in equestrian events.”

On June 10, the torch will travel to the Toyota Blue Springs facility, where plant employees will carry the torch on site. Toyota Manufacturing Group is a national sponsor of the Unified Relay Across America.

“Toyota Mississippi and its team members take great pride in advancing diversity and inclusion in our plant communities,” said Toyota Mississippi Vice President Sean Suggs. “We are honored to carry the Flame of Hope as it travels to the Special Olympics World Games. It is with great privilege that we also host our local Olympic hopeful, Taylor Rosenthal and his father, Bill Rosenthal, as they prepare to compete in this year’s World Games. On behalf of Toyota’s 2,000 team members, we wish them good luck and hope they bring home the gold.”

When the three relays arrive in Los Angeles, the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg Team, comprised of law enforcement officers representing 36 countries, along with 10 Special Olympics athletes, will accept the torches and continue the Flame of Hope’s journey to communities throughout California, including Host Towns where Special Olympics World Games delegations from more than 170 countries will participate in pre-Games cultural exchanges.

Each Unified Relay route will be led by a group of co-captains, including media personalities, actors, musicians, athletes and Special Olympics athletes. Co-captains will serve as spokespeople for the Special Olympics movement and the Unified Relay, encouraging participation through registration, fundraising and spectatorship.

Funds raised from the Unified Relay will go to Special Olympics to provide sports training, competition opportunities and additional programming that empowers people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Participants can find out more information and donate to Mississippi runners’ Unified Relay team at www.unifiedrelay.org.

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. We empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all.  Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance.  Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries.  With the support of more than 1.3 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and more than 81,000 games and competitions throughout the year.  Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics®, The Coca-Cola Company, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, Lions Clubs International, Mattel, Microsoft, P&G, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, Finish Line, The Safeway Foundation, and Safilo Group. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.  Engage with us on: Twitter @specialolympics; fb.com/specialolympics; youtube.com/specialolympicshq, instagram.com/specialolymics and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.

About Special Olympics Mississippi
Chartered in 1975, the mission of the Mississippi Chapter of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics Athletes and their communities. For more information, please connect with us at www.specialolympicsms.org, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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