BREMERTON — The torch used to kick off the 2016 Special Olympics Washington was carried through Kitsap County Thursday, June 2, thanks to the cooperation of local law enforcement agencies.
Sixteen years ago, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, the Kitsap County Deputy Sheriff’s Guilt and other local law enforcement agencies teamed up to form Kitsap Officers Supporting Special Olympics. Officers, executive staffs and high school students arranged their schedules to join in support of the Special Olympics.
“I am pleased to join with the county’s law enforcement agency chiefs, deputies, police officers, troopers, special agents, law enforcement family members, volunteers and South Kitsap School District students in supporting this extremely important effort,” said Sheriff Gary Simpson.
“While there are a large number of outstanding causes that are supported by law enforcement, Special Olympics has always held an extra-special place in our endeavors towards community involvement. The joy, purpose and sense of accomplishment demonstrated by these special athletes serve as an example for all of us.”
Runners carried the Special Olympics Torch, known as the “Flame of Hope,” during a running-and-boating relay through Kitsap County, a portion of the Key Peninsula and across the Tacoma Narrows.
The torch, after the relay is completed, was run up onto stage during the opening ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Friday night.
“Our athletes like the ritual,” said Barb Pool, program coordinator for Bremerton Kitsap Athletic Teams (BKAT). “It’s important to them.”
The relay is part of the nation-wide Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise community awareness to the needs of the Special Olympics. Since it started, more than 100,000 law enforcement officers have carried the torch around 50 states and 35 countries to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics.
“This is just the beginning of the Special Olympics coming to the forefront of our community,” Pool said, “not only in the Bremerton area, but also in the Seattle area.
“It’s going to be a lot of barriers coming down and new horizons for our athletes. And community support, which we’re really looking forward to for our athletes.”
BKAT sent a delegation of 60 athletes to the Special Olympics, which started 7:30 p.m. Friday, and ended 4 p.m. Sunday, June 5. Bremerton athletes competed in aquatic events, soccer, power lifting and track and field.
Law enforcement agencies that participated in the 2016 Kitsap Peninsula Law Enforcement Torch Run include:
— Bainbridge Island Police Department
— Bremerton Police Department
— Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office
— Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Northwest Field Office
— Poulsbo Police Department
— Suquamish Police Department
— South Kitsap School District — students
— U. S. Coast Guard — Maritime Force Protection Unit, Bangor
— Washington State Patrol, District 8
Additionally, non-law enforcement county employees and other interested civilians are adding their ‘legs’ to the torch run by joining in on the relay.
The vision of Special Olympics is to help bring all persons with intellectual disabilities into larger society under conditions where they are accepted, respected and given the chance to become useful and productive citizens.
Special Olympics Washington provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sporting events for children and adult athletes, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.
More than 7,000 athletes compete in Special Olympics Washington; some 2.25 million athletes compete in Special Olympics programs in more than 150 countries.
For more information, visit www.sowa.org.
