To mark the staging of the Special Olympics in Limerick next week, An Garda Siochána and the PSNI will be holding approximately ten Torch Run ceremonies in the mid-western area on 11th and 12th June to raise awareness of the remar-kable achievements of the teams which will represent their regions on this national stage.
The Torch Run will be coming to St. Joseph’s Foundation, Charleville, next Wednesday June 11th. It will arrive at Charleville G.A.A. pitch at 1.45pm and proceed through the town to St. Joseph’s Foundation, arriving at 2pm.
The 2014 Special Olym-pics Ireland Games will take place from 12th to 15th June at a range of venues throughout Limer-ick, Clare and Tipperary. 1,500 athletes from all over Ireland will take part, and it is anticipated that over 6,000 family members and supporters will attend the Games which will be organised by a team of 3,000 volunteers.
The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is to raise funds for, and awareness of, Special Olympics worldwide. Throughout the world, law enforcement officers carry the Special Olympics torch around their area/country in what is one of the largest fundraising and awareness events for the organisation.
In Ireland, the Torch Run first took place in 1989 when members of An Garda Siochána undertook the project. In 1996 the Torch Run made history when both An Garda Siochána and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, now known as the Police Ser-vice of Northern Ireland, took part in an all-island Torch Run.
Over 100,000 police officers from around the world have taken part in Torch Run activities since it began in 1981. For the last 16 years the two police forces in Ireland have worked hand in hand to carry the ‘flame of hope’ to the four corners of the island, ensuring public awareness of the Special Olympics programme and of the outstanding achieve-ments of the Special Olympics athletes within that programme.
The Torch Run is a great occasion for the town, and an opportunity to meet the athletes and wish them the best at the Games. All are welcome next Wednesday.