Press Conference and Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg Friday Morning to Kick Off Special Olympics Georgia State Summer Games

ATLANTA, May 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) kick off State Summer Games by lighting the "Flame of Hope" at 9 a.m. Friday, May 30 at Philips Arena's CNN Center entrance for the LETR Final Leg.

The torch passing is part of a press conference to announce the 2014 Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run and to celebrate the 28^th Anniversary of the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Georgia. 

The torch has been passed across the state by law enforcement officers for the last two weeks and will make its final resting stop by the State Summer Games Opening Ceremony at Emory University Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Friday morning, Deputy Chief Shawn Jones and a Special Olympics Georgia athlete will light the torch and pass it off for the 2014 Final Leg Torch Run. The officers representing the Atlanta Police Department, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, US Marshalls Service, MARTA Police Department, and several other agencies across the state. They will take the torch and begin their final leg of the run through downtown Atlanta and make their way onto Emory's campus.

Slated to speak at the press conference are:  Detective Ed Christian (Law Enforcement Torch Run State Director), Deputy Chief Jones (Atlanta Police Department), and Michelle Pratt (Special Olympics Athlete & Torch Run Athlete Ambassador).

This weekend, nearly 3,000 State Summer Games athletes, coaches and unified partners will participate in aquatics, athletics, flag football, gymnastics, long distance walking and running, soccer, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball, with medals awarded throughout. The presenting sponsor of State Summer Games is Aetna.

"We are excited to host Special Olympics Georgia's State Summer Games beginning on Friday, May 30th. We know there will be tough competition at Emory University this weekend but the athletes have trained hard and are prepared to do their best," said SOGA CEO Georgia Milton-Sheats.

At Opening, the parade of athletes will be led by former Pittsburgh Steeler Kordell Stewart, and athletes will be escorted by the Law Enforcement Torch Run Officers from across the state and Atlanta Silverbacks players. Ken Rodriguez of Fox 5 TV will be the Master of Ceremony.

The games are free and open to the public.  Parking is free at Peavine Parking deck.

Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA)
SOGA provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for nearly 26,702 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. For more information visit www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

SOURCE Special Olympics Georgia

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED