Tauranga Police will show their support for our Western Bay of Plenty Special Olympic athletes by carrying the Flame of Hope with them through Tauranga's city centre this weekend.

On Saturday, October the 29, The Tauranga leg of torch run will start at the Te Awanui waka shelter at the beginning of The Strand. Police and athletes will then follow a loop track back to the waterfront along Devonport Rd, Elizabeth and Grey St.

The local torch run is part of a nationwide Law Enforcement Torch Run, where the torch will be relayed through New Zealand's major centres in coming months ahead the of the Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics National Summer Games being held in Hamilton from December 8-12.

Flame alight

The Flame of Hope stands for courage, inspiration, opportunity, equality, and of course, hope. Every year 97,000 law enforcement members from across the world take part in the event.

Kellie Wakelin, Tauranga community constable Jason Arnel, Hayley Little, Mitch Brown, Ashley Linott, Cara Galletly and Mount Maunganui community constable Nick Bartlett at Tauranga Domain. Photo: John Borren.

A group of six Tauranga police will back our special Olympians, helping feed the flame.

'For us, it's about showing awareness for the Special Olympics and just how much of a special event it is and showing our support for our local athletes taking part in the event as well as the coaches involved helping train them, and the families involved,” says community constable, Jason Arnel.

'To have a disability and compete in a sport is such a great achievement and honour, and to be able to represent your community, your town, your district, your country – it's just special.”

Top athletes

The Tauranga Special Olympics club has 66 athletes heading to the National Summer games this December.

Among our top Special Olympic athletes is Hayley Little, who will compete in the nationals for the first time in long distance running, relay and long jump. She also just found out she's been selected for the world games in Berlin 2023.

"I'm still trying to get my head around it,” says Hayley. 'At school, sport wasn't really a thing of mine and now I just love running in athletics and long jump.”

Getting to be a part of the torch run and carrying the flame is a dream, says Hayley.

'You watch the Olympics on the TV and you think: ‘Oh I'd love to see what that torch is like and I'd love to be behind them [Olympians]',” says Hayley.

'This is actually a dream you know, I'm doing it…you dream as a little kid and you never think it would come true and then it does.”

Hayley thinks it's great that Police are involved supporting them as sporting champions of our region.

'It's awesome because it's not just having family and friends but community behind you saying: ‘You've got this. We're right behind you',” says Hayley.

Cara Galletly competed a Special Olympics swimming event at Te Awamutu earlier this month. Photo: John Borren.