Special Olympics USA Torch Visits Dalton
Thursday, May 26th, 2022
A rainy day wasn't enough to put out the Special Olympic flame in Dalton, nor dampen the spirits of local Special Olympic athletes.
The Special Olympics USA Torch Relay visited Dalton Thursday as the flame makes its way from Illinois to Florida for next month's Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando. The relay run originally planned along Thornton Avenue and South Dixie Highway from City Hall to Lakeshore Park was canceled due to the threat of severe weather. Instead, the torch was run through the Lakeshore Park campus and around the soccer field before a pep rally event inside of the soccer building.
During the rally, Special Olympics local coordinator Lisa Hughey recognized Dalton's Special Olympians who are traveling Friday to the Special Olympics Georgia games in Atlanta and also the athletes who will travel to the USA Games in Orlando next month. Organizers also presented special recognition awards to retired Dalton Police Department officer Terry Smith and retired Whitfield County Sheriff's deputy Lt. Wayne Mathis for their outstanding contributions to the program during their careers. Both were instrumental in organizing the local Law Enforcement Torch Run fundraisers each year. The statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest fundraiser for Georgia's Special Olympics programs each year.
Two torches were used during Thursday's run. The ornate torch that will be used in next month's USA Games was carried by volunteers from the Atlanta area and the torch used in local relay runs was carried by Special Olympic athletes and volunteers from the Dalton area. As the runners made their way through the park and around the soccer complex they were cheered on by Dalton police officers and firefighters as well as a group of Whitfield County Sheriff's deputies as well as members of the public who came out to celebrate.
"It's very special for Dalton to be hosting an event for the Special Olympics," said Mayor David Pennington, who praised the work of local public safety agencies in support of Special Olympics and also the efforts Lisa Hughey. "You have all made the Special Olympics a big deal in Dalton for a long time."
"I wish our athletes well," Pennington said. "I know that you're going to cover us in glory like all of our athletes in Dalton and Whitfield County do. Good luck in all that you do."
The Special Olympics torch will next visit Atlanta this weekend for the Georgia games before relay events in Florida culminating in the USA Games on June 6th.
Below: With the assistance of retired DPD officer Terry Smith, a Special Olympics athlete lights the flame cauldron at Dalton Stadium; Mayor David Pennington and DPD Chief Cliff Cason address the pep rally gathering; Special Olympics Georgia presents an award to Terry Smith; a group of local public safety employees and volunteers pose together after the relay
