The Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America is coming through downtown Denver on Friday as part of a week-long tour in Colorado en route to the organization’s 2015 World Games.
Teams of up to 15 people will carry the Flame of Hope through the city and out to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for an evening event.
“It’s really about raising awareness for the Special Olympics and the World Games in Los Angeles,” said Amy Turner, spokeswoman for Special Olympics Colorado.
The Flame of Hope is expected to arrive in the Denver area at about 10 a.m. in Parker. From there it will head north and get to downtown around 4 p.m.
Friday night, the flame will be at Red Rocks ahead of the sold-out Widespread Panic concert for a live telecast from 6:30-7 p.m. on 7News. Colorado’s four Special Olympics athletes competing in the World Games will be part of the broadcast.
The torch will be in all 50 states prior to the Los Angeles games, which open July 25. The , entered Colorado on Wednesday in La Junta and will leave July 1 from Grand Junction.
Colorado has one of the longest Flame of Hope tours of any state. In Colorado, nearly $90,000 has been raised just through the torch run.
“We have athletes who are running the torch around the state with family, friends, co-workers, sponsors,” Turner said. “It’s really inspiring to see the excitement that’s behind this initiative with the unified relay.”
Special Olympics Colorado has 16,500-plus athletes who range in age between 2 years old and their late 70s.
Officials warn motorists to expect minor delays around the relay as the Flame of Hope moves through.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
