Special to NKyTribune
A bit of Special Olympics history will make a stop in Northern Kentucky when the Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America holds a celebration at Kerry Toyota, 6050 Hopeful Church Rd. in Florence.
The Unified Relay is carrying the Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” torch from the east coast of the United States to Los Angeles for 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. It is being conducted across three routes with Kentucky on the Central Route, which kicked off May 26 in Washington DC.
The Flame of Hope entered Kentucky on June 2 before crossing into Ohio and returns on June 4 just before the Kerry Toyota celebration. Toyota is the official vehicle supplier of the Unified Relay Across America and a worldwide partner of the World Summer Games.
The Kerry Toyota event will include Special Olympics rhythmic gymnast Danielle Blakeney of Erlanger who is one of four Kentucky athletes who will compete as part of the Special Olympics USA team at the Los Angeles World Games.
The Flame of Hope will continue to Lexington on June 4, will make an appearance at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown and in Richmond at the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games on June 5 and will head on to Louisville on June 6.
The Relay will leave Kentucky on June 7 before doubling back into the state via Fort Campbell and then finishing its tour of Kentucky when it leaves Paducah on June 8.
For more information about the Unified Relay Across America or about local Unified Relay events, contact Trish Mazzoni, Special Olympics Kentucky President and CEO at 502-695-8222 or tmazzoni@soky.org.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world’s largest program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Participation in competitive events is open to all individuals eight years of age or older. Training and competition in local, area, state, and national programs is offered year-round in Kentucky in 15 sports. In addition to its traditional sports competitions, Special Olympics also offers early childhood programming through the Young Athletes Program and medical screenings though the Healthy Athletes Initiative. Special Olympics Kentucky began as a one-day event in Louisville in 1970 and has expanded to serve more than 7,400 athletes statewide annually. Special Olympics has now been changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in Kentucky for 45 years. You can follow Special Olympics Kentucky on Twitter at @sokentucky or Facebook
About 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 – August 2, 2015 – 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. The 2015 Special Olympics World Games, with the unparalleled spirit, enthusiasm, teamwork, joy and displays of courage and skill that are hallmarks of all Special Olympics events, will feature 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. The Opening Ceremony, to be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org and on social with #ReachUpLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.