The Special Olympics Flame of Hope, which has been carried in a torch relay across the United States by thousands of runners on three routes, will arrive today in downtown Los Angeles, where a cauldron will be lit two weeks ahead of the Special Olympics World Games’ opening ceremony.
The flame has been on winding paths across the country since May 26, when torch relays began in Maine, Florida and Washington, D.C. The three relays will move through the Los Angeles area today beginning in North Hollywood, Lakewood and La Habra.
At about 3 p.m., the three routes will converge at the Bank of America Plaza on Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles, where a ceremony will be held to light the Special Olympics cauldron.
The ceremony is expected to include a host of dignitaries, including former California first lady Maria Shriver, founder of Special Olympics Southern California and former Olympian Rafer Johnson, Nancy O’Dell, actress Alison Sweeney, Jesse McCartney, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck and Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell.
Another celebration for the Flame of Hope will be held tonight at Dodger Stadium prior to the team’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. During that event, the flame will be passed to law enforcement, which will carry the torch across the state for the next two weeks in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg, culminating at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the opening ceremony on June 25.
