December 15, 2010
To: All Torch Runners
RE: Law Enforcement Runner Nomination Materials for the 2011 Final Leg in Greece
As everyone knows, the marquis event in the world of Special Olympics will take place next summer in Athens, Greece. The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games provides an incredible opportunity for athletes to travel to Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic movement, to embrace the Olympic ideal, display their talents and abilities, and to compete against other athletes from around the world. It will undoubtedly be an amazing and historic event that will leave an indelible mark on everyone associated with the World Games!
As an important part of the World Games, the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg will heighten awareness and take the message of Special Olympics and the World Games to every corner of Greece as well as to Cyprus, Istanbul, Turkey, and Alexandria, Egypt. Law Enforcement Officials and Special Olympics Athletes, unified together as a part of the Final Leg Team, will serve as true Guardians of the Flame and promote the powerful messages of inclusion, acceptance, and ability every step of our three-week journey to promote the World Games.
I would like to invite you to nominate yourself to represent your Torch Run Program in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your selected officer to experience a unified Final Leg in Greece, live and bond with ten amazing athletes, and represent our Torch Run Program as well as the Torch Run movement while raising incredible awareness and support of the 2011 World Games!
The 2011 Final Leg will begin with the Flame Lighting Ceremony in Athens, Greece on June 9th and cover scores of cities, towns, and communities, to include all of the HostTown Program communities, on the way to the Opening Ceremonies in Athens on June 25th.
The 2011 Final Leg will require a commitment of 21 days for selected runners. Team members will fly to Athens, Greece and arrive on Tuesday, June 7th. This means that most runners, depending on their home locations, will depart on June 6th to arrive in Athens on June 7th. Team members will be relieved of Final Leg duties and ready to travel home from Athens on Monday, June 27th.
The cost of participation are covered by the 2011 Games Organizing Committee, and other event related expenses are covered by the LETR Executive Council/SOI and the VA LETR.
Garber Travel at SOI is booking all Team travel—individuals should not make their own arrangements. Additional information on travel and uniform kit plans will be sent out at a later time.
- Runner selection criteria
- Nomination form
- Runner biography form
- Team profile example and instructions
- Travel reservation form and instructions
- Uniform sizing form
- Reminder notes and nomination submission checklist
Runner nominations are due to be received by January 25, 2011. I would like to thank you in advance for your support of the 2011 Final Leg, for your prompt response, and for the careful selection of your Final Leg runner.
For all inquiries regarding the 2011 Final Leg, please contact me at or 757-962-1575The Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Council and the 2011 Final Leg Committee look forward to your program’s participation in the 2011 Final Leg in Greece!
Best Regards,
Debbie Apperson
Torch Run Liaison
Special Olympics VA
RUNNER SELECTION CRITERIA
Selection should be based on established dedication and commitment to Special Olympics and the Torch Run. Candidate should be heavily and currently involved in your Torch Run Program and show outstanding potential for future Torch Run involvement.
Candidate must be a full-time or retired member of a law enforcementagency—see below for definitions. Any “gray areas” should be discussed with Michael Teem prior to submission.
Law Enforcement Agency: Federal, national, state, provincial, tribal, military, municipal, county, city, local, or corrections agency that is responsible for enforcing statutes, regulations or ordinances. This definition is intended to be broad in order to include organizations similar to those described in the preceding sentence in areas outside North America as may be determined by the Executive Council from time to time.
Law Enforcement Member: Any person who is a sworn or commissioned member of or retired in good standing from a Law Enforcement Agency and who volunteers to be a Law Enforcement Torch Run volunteer.
Only one runner per established Torch Run Program is eligible to be nominated for the Final Leg (except for Greece, which will provide 10 officer runners—1 per running team).
Due to the nature of this event, the candidate must be firmly committed to participating in this event at the time of their selection. Candidate must be able to be away from his/her job for the entire duration of the Final Leg. Candidate must be able to obtain all necessary travel documents (passport, visa if required) well in advance of the Final Leg.
Runner must be ready, willing and able to: 1) represent their Torch Run Program in a very positive manner; 2) proudly represent Law Enforcement and the Torch Run as a symbol of our deep commitment to the athletes of Special Olympics; and 3) help fulfill the mission of the Final Leg—to create awareness and excitement for Special Olympics and the World Games.
Ability to function as part of a team. Candidate is expected to establish and maintain a high level of cooperation with all Team members and supporters.
Each runner should have a working e-mail address—e-mail is the only way updated event information will be disseminated.
Runner should be able to maintain a pace of 10 minutes per mile for 3 miles at a time and have the ability to run 5 miles over 2 or more intervals during the course of a day.
RUNNER SELECTION CRITERIA (continued)
Candidate must possess the stamina to tolerate long days consisting of travel, running, and special event functions.
Candidate should be able to tolerate the hot summer climate of Greece.
Candidate needs to be able to speak in front of groups at various functions and ceremonies about Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Runner will be required (at a later date) to provide proper insurance and medical information in order to participate in the Final Leg.
All nomination materials are due to be received by
January 25, 2011! Send to:
Debbie Apperson
Special Olympics VA
184 Business Park Drive 202
Virginia Beach, VA23462
E-MAIL:
2011 FINAL LEG RUNNER NOMINATION FORM
TORCH RUN PROGRAM:______
NAME:______
DATE OF BIRTH:______SEX:______
ADDRESS: ______
(Mailing ______
(Shipping) ______
E-MAIL ADDRESS (Required):______
BACK-UP E-MAIL ADDRESS:______
TELEPHONE (Home):______
(Work):______
(Cell):______
(Fax):______
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY:______
ADDRESS:______
______
CURRENT POSITION AND ASSIGNMENT:______
SMOKER/NON-SMOKER:______
PRIMARY LANGUAGE:______
OTHER FLUENT LANGUAGES:______
PASSPORT NUMBER:______(or date of application)
Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Greece
Runner Biography
This form is designed to gather essential information about the individual selected from your Program to participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run® Final Leg for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Greece. This information is critical to capturing the unique accomplishments your representative has achieved in service to Special Olympics athletes and to your Torch Run Program.
Name: ______Rank: ______
Torch Run Program:______
Agency: ______Years with Agency: ______
Hometown: ______Years involved with Torch Run: ______
Family:______
Hobbies, Interests:______
Have you previously participated in a Final Leg? If yes, what year(s):______
Torch Run/Special Olympics/Law Enforcement Awards of note: ______
______
______
Special Olympics Involvement Outside of Torch Run: ______
______
______
Favorite Torch Run Memory: ______
______
______
______
Favorite Special Olympics Memory: ______
______
What would you consider the proudest achievement of your law enforcement career:______
______
How did you get involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics:______
______
Any other information of interest you would like to share?:______
______
2011 FINAL LEG TRAVEL RESERVATION FORM
RUNNER:______
(full name as it appears on your passport!!!)
TR/SO PROGRAM:______
HOMEAIRPORT:______
SEAT PREFERENCE:______
CELL PHONE NUMBER:______
E-MAIL ADDRESS:______
PASSPORT #:______
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:______
______
LEO Runners and Special Olympics Athletes will be arriving in Athens, Greece on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. Team Departures will be on Monday, June 27th from Athens.
Garber Travel at SOI is booking all Team travel—individual Programs should not make their own arrangements. SO Programs are responsible for paying for transportation costs for their selected law enforcement runner. A travel payment form with instructions will be sent to all SO Programs at the appropriate time.
Do not make plans for a significant other to travel to Athens to link up with you during the Final Leg. Your duties with the Final Leg conclude on June 27th. More info about this area will be sent to runners at a later date.
The LETR Executive Council is paying the travel costs for all SO Athletes, Running Team Leaders, and Support Team Members.
For Programs who have an SO athlete representative selected, the LEO runner from the program and SO program athlete will be traveling together and this travel will be booked in unison by Garber Travel.
2011 FINAL LEG UNIFORM SIZING FORM
Name:______Gender:______
Program:______
Height:______Weight:______
Waist:______Chest:______
Running Suit:______(S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
Running Short:______(S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
Running Singlet:______(S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
Polo/T-shirt:______(S, M, L, XL)
Sock Size:______(M, L)
Please provide any information that may be useful when it comes to ordering your gear:______
Sizing Info and Tips:
The uniform provider has not yet been selected—although we are close... More specific uniform and size info will be sent to individual runners once their nomination packets are received to assist with getting everyone’s accurate sizes depending on the vendor and items selected
Ladies, if you want men’s sizes for certain items, please clearly indicate this on your form