Disability Sports Special Olympics 2009 Special Olympics Idaho

Special Olympics Torch Arrives in Boise Idaho

Hundreds gathered in front of Boise City Hall Wednesday afternoon to watch the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Law Enforcement Torch Run arrive in the capital city.

Hundreds gathered in front of Boise City Hall Wednesday afternoon to watch the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Law Enforcement Torch Run arrive in the capital city.

Hundreds of schoolchildren gave a warm welcome on a chilly Wednesday morning to the Flame of Hope as police and others carried the Special Olympics torch to Dollar Mountain where the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games open Sunday. It was the final leg of a ceremonial flame that has been carried more than 37,000 miles through five continents. Athletes and law enforcement agents ran with the torch from the Boise Depot downtown on Capitol Boulevard.

Law enforcement officers in countries participating in Special Olympics raised more than $34 million for local Special Olympics programs through golf tournaments and other events during 2008. Idaho officers raised more than $85,000.

Dignitaries spoke and the crowd cheered as athletes who will compete in the Special Olympics games Saturday through Feb. 13, gathered to represent countries around the world.

Jim Grossman, the Ketchum man who spearheaded the drive to bring the Olympics to Idaho three years ago, took time out from his photographing to take a few minutes behind the podium.

"This is a dream that started three years ago and it shows how one moment can change a whole world," he said. "I'm one of the luckiest people in the world right now to see the dream I had become reality."

The Special Olympics World Winter Games games are expected to draw more than 2,000 of athletes from more than 100 countries around the world. The opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics World Winter Games is set for Saturday at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

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