The Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” is on the last leg of the journey to the 2022 Special Olympics South Africa National Summer Games.
Limpopo, South Africa (15 November 2022) – Today marked the 4th leg of the official Special Olympics Torch Run in Limpopo. The final leg will take place as the “Flame of Hope” enters the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium to mark the beginning of the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Special Olympics South Africa Summer Games.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is an integral part of the Opening Ceremonies at Special Olympics National Games worldwide. Known as the Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” into Opening Ceremonies of Special Olympics District, Provincial, National, Regional and World Games.
Over 100,000 law enforcement members carry the “Flame of Hope” annually. The Flame symbolises courage and the celebration of diversity, uniting communities around the globe.
The South African Police Services in Limpopo have embraced the Guardians of the Flame of Hope role in South Africa.
The Special Olympics South Africa “Flame of Hope” was lit by former President Nelson Mandela in his cell on Robben Island to launch the first Law Enforcement Torch Run in South Africa and to symbolise his commitment to the inclusion of people living with an intellectual disability in South Africa.
The former President had this to say about his involvement with Special Olympics, “Few things in life could have given me greater pleasure or brought me more honour than to be associated with the Special Olympics. I regard myself privileged to be here on this occasion. Special Olympics is a testament to the indestructibility of the human spirit. Many of you have suffered great disadvantages in your lives… you serve as an example and inspiration… you, the athletes, are the ambassadors of the greatest of humankind. You inspire us to know that all obstacles to human achievement and progress are surmountable.”
To this day, the Flame lit by former President Mandela burns brightly in South Africa. Today Special Olympics South Africa serves over 57,000 athletes across all nine provinces.
The Flame of Hope was handed to Limpopo Law Enforcement on the 3rd of December 2021 on International Day of Persons with a Disability when the Province of Limpopo was officially announced as the host of the 2022 Special Olympics South Africa National Games.
As a build-up to the National Games, the “Flame of Hope” has travelled to four districts in Limpopo, Waterberg, Sekhukhune, Mopani and Vhembe under the guardianship of the South African Police Services in Limpopo.
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The Flame of Hope will undertake its final leg in the Province when it enters the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in the Capricorn district on the 17th of November during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2022 Special Olympics South Africa National Summer Games.
These Games will see the advancement of the Special Olympics South Africa National Team that will represent South Africa at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany.
The National Team will be participating against over 7,000 athletes from 180 countries in Berlin and will be hoping to beat the medal count from the previous Special Olympics Summer Games in the UAE, where the team returned with 35 Gold, 15 Silver and 12 Bronze medals.
The “Flame of Hope” will be returned to the Special Olympics South Africa National Office after the Games until the announcement of the hosts of the 2024 Special Olympics South Africa National Winter Games.
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