This Saturday police and emergency services workers will jump into the chilly ocean at Glenelg to raise money for the Special Olympics movement of Australia.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) will have Plunge events in Adelaide, Brisbane", Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Wellington this weekend, with the Adelaide event starting with a "Flame of Hope" run along Jetty Road.
The event is being held to congratulate the South Australian athletes who represented Australia at last year's Special Olympic World Summer Games in Berlin Germany, and in advance of the Special Olympic World Winter Games which are being held in Turin, Italy from 8-16 March 2025. It is expected there will be over 1,500 athletes from 103 countries competing in eight sports, supported by over 3,000 volunteers and 300,000 spectators in attendance at the 12th Special Olympic World Winter Games.
The Special Olympics is the world's largest sports event for people with intellectual disabilities.
South Australia Police employees, as well as those from SA Metropolitan Fire Service, SA Country Fire Service and SA Ambulance Service are also set to brave the cold waters alongside SA Special Olympic Athletes and their supporters.
The "Flame of Hope" awareness run will begin at 11:30am at the eastern end of Jetty Road and proceed through Moseley Square and past the Glenelg Jetty before ending at Brian Nadilo Reserve.
A short presentation by the LETR to Special Olympic athletes will take place after which LETR and supporters will undertake the Polar Plunge into the cold waters, a sign of acknowledgement to the tenacity shown by Special Olympics athletes worldwide and proof of their motto "let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt".
Members of the public are welcome to attend the event and support our local athletes The Police Band will be performing and an opportunity to meet the athletes will be available to the public.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 in Kansas, with law enforcement professionals from more than 45 countries participating since then to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. To date, LETR have together raised more than $1 billion dollars for Special Olympics globally.
Police ask motorists to take care to ensure runners proceed safely. Police will be present to ensure the run progresses safely, but there may be some delays.
To support this year's Polar Plunge and donate to SA Special Olympics Athletes visit: Polar Plunge Adelaide 2024 (specialolympics.com.au)
