"Flame of Hope"

“The Flame of hope”

The symbol of the Final Leg the power behind what guides during our journey is the “Flame of Hope.” Light from the sun in Athens, Greece like the original Olympic Games and carried in a minors lamp across the globe to Ames, Iowa the “Flame of Hope was light to begin the 2010 Special Olympics National Games Final Leg Run. The flame in the minors lamp lights the torch carried by athletes as well as officers to carry the flame 

across Nebraska to the Opening Ceremonies.

 Each program, state, world and national games has a torch that is unique to it. MTM manufacting in Del City, Oklahoma manufactured this years as well as a majority of the torches used across the US and for the Final Leg. This years torch truely caputures Nebraska itself.

The torch handle appears to resemble drift wood with various symbols of Nebraska on it. The torch has wagons to symolzie the Oregon Trail, Train Tracks to symoblize their heritage with the expansion of the US westward, native wild life to Nebraska, a depection of an Indian Chief which is a sign of heritage and strength, a football for the University of Nebraska as well as barbwire throughout the torch wrapping its way to the top of the torch. The Barbwire to me symbolizes the bonds of the Final Leg Team one piece of wire being the athletes and one being the officers as they become one to create the ties or bonds that hold them together to hold the torch high for all to see. The wagon and train tracks also symbolize the LETR and Final Leg teams blasing a new trail of acceptance and spreading the Special Olympics movement. MTM outdid themselves, the Torch is absolutly gorgeous and is a sight to see..