On Tuesday, June 20, the Emeryville Police Department (EPD) will be participating in the Special Olympics Torch Run fundraising event, part of the Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games.  The Torch Run will begin in Emeryville at 9:30 AM at the intersection of 40th Street and Adeline Street, where EPD will meet with the Oakland Police Department for the passing of the Torch.  EPD will run approximately three miles through Emeryville to Walgreens on San Pablo Avenue, where the Torch will then be passed on to the Berkeley Police Department.

THE TORCH RUN

An important part of Summer Games is the running of the Special Olympics Torch, the "Flame of Hope" prior to the start of the Games. The Flame of Hope is relayed through our communities throughout Northern California, escorted by various law enforcement agency personnel.  The final relay of the Torch starts at the State Capital building, ending at Opening Ceremony where it it will light the caldron signaling the opening of the Games.  It is estimated that over 1,000 Law Enforcement personnel will have the honor of escorting the Flame of Hope in their community on its journey to the Games.  Many of them will also be at Summer Games presenting awards to the athletes on Saturday and Sunday.

ABOUT THE GAMES

Approximately 1,000 Special Olympics athletes and their coaches will descend on the UC Davis Campus to compete in the 2017 Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games. After weeks of training and participating at a qualifying competition, the athletes will compete in bocce, swimming, tennis or track & field in state-of-the-art collegiate athletic facilities on the UC Davis campus.

Summer Games is the culminating competition for our spring sports season and is one of the largest Special Olympics sporting competitions in Northern California. The minimum age of the competitors is eight years of age and there is no age limit cap. Athletes have varying ability levels and are put into divisions to compete against athletes of the approximate equal skill level. Over 1,200 volunteers will be on hand to fill a variety of volunteer positions over the course of the weekend.

For more information about the event, please go here.