"Flame of Hope" in Istanbul
The “Flame of Hope”, carried
from nation to nation with the Torch run organized by the Law
Enforcement Departments since 1981 to support the athletes with
intellectual disabilities and to contribute to the promotion of
the Special Olympics has been brought to Istanbul for the first
time.
A team of 36 made up of law Enforcement officials from cities,
states and countries such as Alaska, Austria, Belgium, Kansas,
The Czech Republic, Delaware, Southern California, Hawaii, Idaho,
Iowa, Ireland, North Ireland, Louisiana, Hungary, Montana, Nebraska,
New Jersey, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and Washington has brought
the “Flame of Hope” that was lit on June 4th in Athens to Istanbul,
elected to be one of the 19 host cities in Europe, for the final
leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run before the kick off of the
Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held between June 20th
and 29th in Dublin.
Interpol Branch Manager Ömer Yanık and Istanbul International
Police Association (IPA) Vice President Servet Sarıçiçek greeted
Timothy P. Shriver, International Special Olympics President,
who came to Turkey with the Torch Run Team to watch the activities
in Istanbul.
Burak Tual,
Special Olympics Athlete, who delivered the “Welcome to Our City!”
speech during the meeting held for the Torch Run Team in Beylerbeyi
Law Enforcement Social Complex, said that Turkey will win many
medals and become the champion in the World Summer Games.
Later, General Manager Anthony Phillipson, Assistant General Manager
Mahmut Zeytinoğlu and Aylin Ogan greeted the team along with Timothy
Shiver, Sakıp Sabancı, and Dilek Sabancı, who paid a visit to
the Rahmi M. Koç Museum after a short excursion on the Bosphorous.
The Torch run to Feshane, joined in by the 3000 students who had
been waiting in front of the museum was accompanied by Mayor of
Graeter Istanbul, Ali Mufit Gurtuna, as well. “Flame of Hope Choir
and Dance Group” (Umut Atesi Koro ve Dans Grubu) presented a show
at the end of the ceremonies at Feshane.
Law Enforcement Torch Run
The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 when Wichita, Kansas
(USA), Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise
funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics. The run,
organized in 1981 in Kansas where local law enforcement officers
participated as runners attracted great public interest. After
three successful years of Torch Runs in town, the event was presented
to the International Association of Chiefs of Police and was accepted
with great enthusiasm. In the following years, the Torch Run spread
out to 7 states by 1985, to 43 states by 1986 and to 25 Countries
by 1997.
Today the Torch Run Programs enjoy the participation of more than
one hundred thousand Law Enforcement officials in over 30 Countries
and has become the most significant promotional and fund raising
activity; over $100 million has been raised in 20 years with $18.000.000
in 2001.
The Law Enforcement officials represented their countries every
two years in the Torch Run Final Leg and carried the Flame of
Hope from Athens to the Special Olympics World Games Opening Ceremonies.
The Law Enforcement Officials who are referred as the “Guardians
of the Flame” have always helped the Special Olympics Athletes
realize their dreams through the hope and encouragement they provide.
Torch Run in Turkey
The first Torch Run in Turkey was held by the members of the Rapid
Response Team (Cevik Kuvvet) for the National Special Olympics
Games VI in 1998.
Members of the Gendarmerie Headquarters and Security General Directorate
participated together in the Torch Run held for the National Special
Olympics Games VII in 2002.
The Torch Run team carried the flame that was lit in Taksim Square
by the Special Olympics Athletes across the Bosporus Bridge and
into The Burhan Felek Sports Complex where the Games were held
and started the National Games Opening Ceremonies.
The Members of the Gendarmerie Headquarters and Security General
Directorate represented Turkey again in the Law Enforcement Torch
Run Final Leg held prior to 2003 Special Olympics World Summer
Games in Dublin, Ireland.
Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg 2003
The “Flame of Hope” was lit once again in Athens on June 4th for
Special Olympics World Summer Games 2003 held in Dublin, Ireland
between June 21st and 29th, 2003.
Law enforcement Officials from around the world carried the “Flame
of Hope”, covering the thousands of kilometers starting from Athens
and leading to Ireland through three seperate routes. One hundred
Law Enforcement Officials and ten Special Olympics Athletes who
had participated in the Torch Run previously in their home countries
stopped by big cities like Brussels, Budapest, Gibraltar, Den
Haag, Hamburg, Helsinki, Istanbul, London, Lausanne, Madrid, Milan,
Monaco, Nice, Paris, Prague, Riga, Vienna and Warsaw to take part
in in the Special Olympics activities. All Torch Run teams met
in Brussels on June 10th to leave for London and moved on to Belfast.
The Torch Run Team joined the approximately 2000 Law Enforcement
Officials from the Ireland’s National Police Service and Police
Federation For Northern Ireland who would carry the torch through
Ireland on June 13th. The “Guardians of Flame” who carried the
“Flame of Hope” crossed the island coast to coast stopping to
take part in various ceremonies in almost 130 villages, towns
and cities along the way.
And, the “Flame of Hope” was brought into the Special Olympics
World Summer Games Opening Ceremonies held in Dublin on June 21st
and delivered to a Special Olympics Athlete. The Athlete started
the opening ceremonies by igniting the Summer Games torch with
the “flame of Hope” that was carried for thousands of kilometers.
Law
Enforcement Torch Run 2003 Schedule
4
June
|
Receiving
the Olympic Flame , Ceremony, Athens, Greece |
| 5-11
June |
European
Route (Routes I, II, III)
|
| 13-20
June |
Belfast-Dublin
Route |
| 21
June |
Special
Olympics World Summer Games Opening Ceremonies Dublin, Ireland |
European Route
Route
|
|
I |
II |
III |
5
June |
Thu
|
Madrid/Gibraltar
|
Helsinki
|
İstanbul
|
6
June |
Fri
|
Nice/Monaco |
Riga |
Budapest |
7
June |
Sat |
Milan |
Warsaw |
Vienna |
8
June |
Sun |
Lausanne |
Hamburg |
Prag |
9
June |
Mon |
Paris |
Lahey |
- |
10
June |
Tue |
Brussels |
Brussels |
Brussels |
11
June |
Wed |
London |
London |
London |
12
June |
Thu |
Belfast |
Belfast |
Belfast |
|
Law Enforcement Torch
Run Final Leg 2003 / Host City İSTANBUL
Contributors
|
|
Resmi
Hizmet Sponsorları |
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