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Video: Flame of Hope passes through Palmdale

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PALMDALE – The Flame of Hope – the official torch for the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 – was carried through Palmdale and Lancaster Friday afternoon on its journey to the opening ceremonies of the World Games on July 25.

Law enforcement officers serving as the “Guardians of the Flame of Hope” and Special Olympic athletes ceremoniously ran the Flame of Hope from Summerwind Elementary in Palmdale to the Antelope Valley Mall, where Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford presided over a brief motivational ceremony.

The Flame of Hope Torch Run then moved on to Lancaster. The Guardians trotted the torch from the University of Antelope Valley on Sierra Highway to American Heroes Park, where another ceremony was held to raise awareness for the Special Olympics and explain the significance of the Flame of Hope and the World Games.

The Flame of Hope symbolizes the Special Olympics goal: shining a light on the talents and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities.

The torch will be carried through more than 120 cities, towns and communities across the state before arriving at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as part of the Opening Ceremony for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

With 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games – being staged in Los Angeles July 25 to Aug. 2 – will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games.

Read more about the Flame of Hope’s journey, history and significance at: http://www.specialolympics.org/News_and_Stories/2015/Flame_of_Hope.aspx

For several photos from the Palmdale torch run and ceremony, click here. For several photos from the Lancaster torch run and ceremony, click here.

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Previous related story: Upcoming public events in Palmdale to mark Special Olympics World Games

1 comment for "Video: Flame of Hope passes through Palmdale"

  1. It was an awesome experience to see these athletes and law enforcement running with the torch and being so excited to be a part of it. The AV has an athlete who was selected to compete in tennis at the World Games. Our own AV Special Olympics will be rooting for him as well as all of the athletes.