On July 17, 2015, the Flame of Hope, the official torch for the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015, will be carried through the City of Thousand Oaks, with a ceremony to be held at the Civic Arts Plaza front lawn, 2100 E Thousand Oaks Blvd. at 1:15 pm.

Speaking at the ceremony will be Thousand Oaks Police Chief Tim Hagel and Special Olympic athlete and Final Leg runner Nigel Davis.

Join the City of Thousand Oaks in welcoming the law enforcement officers who serve as the Guardians of the Flame of Hope and the Special Olympic athletes as they participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg. Law Enforcement officers and Special Olympic athletes are selected by their respective Special Olympics programs to be one of the 126 Final Leg Team members based on their dedication and commitment to the Special Olympics movement.

Community members are encouraged to join the celebration alongside law enforcement to express support for these athletes! Throughout the journey of the Final Leg, law enforcement officers from around the world will be spreading the message of acceptance and inclusion for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Thousand Oaks is Host Town for Special Olympic athletes from the countries of Mongolia, San Marino, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, and Tajikistan.

The Flame of Hope will complete its journey on July 25th when the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg team carries it into the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 World Games and it ignites the cauldron at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and '84 Olympics Opening Ceremony.

The public will be able to see daily photographs, videos and read reports of the Flame of Hope’s journey online at: LETR-FinalLeg.org and on social with #FinalLeg2015 on Facebook and @LETRforSO on Twitter.

For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org and on social with #ReachUpLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.