Team Communication #1
Mark McCorkle - Team Captain
Greetings Torch Runners, and congratulations on being selected to participate in the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games Final Leg in Berlin, Germany!
I know all of you have been anxiously awaiting information – any information – related to the Final Leg. This first of many communications will be relatively brief, but it was important to reach out, say hello, and introduce you to your teammates!
Let me start by saying that this has been a most unusual planning cycle for a Final Leg, for a whole host of reasons. While it seems we’re getting a late start, please know that the planning for the event started well over a year ago.
My goal is to keep these communications as concise as possible yet provide you the information you need and want to plan for this incredible journey.
While we are not yet prepared to provide specific travel information, I can give you a general sense of our time frames. These dates are all still tentative, but are a working model for us:
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Flame Lighting Ceremony, Athens Greece
Friday, June 9, 2023
Flame Arrival Ceremony, Berlin, Germany
Monday, June 12, 2023
Torch Runners Arrive in Berlin
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Day of Inclusion Ceremonies throughout Germany
Welcome Dinner
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Final Leg Torch Run
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Final Leg Torch Run
Friday, June 16, 2023
Final Leg Torch Run
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Final Leg Torch Run
Opening Ceremonies
Sunday, June 18, 2023
Fundraising Event (tentative)
Team Recognition Dinner
Monday, June 19, 2023
Team Departs for Home
This is a reduced schedule in comparison to previous Final Legs, but I can assure you, our impact on brining awareness to the Games, and for those with intellectual disabilities will be profound and long-lasting.
Here are the members of the 2023 World Games Final Leg Team:
Region 1Torch RunnerKelly Walsh - ConnecticutDoug Maifeld - MaineKevin Considine - MassachusettsPaul Montray - New HampshireFrank Matarese - Rhode Island
Region 2Torch RunnerAndy Manning - DelawareAmber Owens - MarylandMeg Hammond - New JerseyJeffrey Wilson - New YorkMarc Schau - PennsylvaniaLaura Paschal - VirginiaRegion 3Torch RunnerVanessa Jackson - AlabamaTyler Seymour - GeorgiaClaudia Morgan - North CarolinaMatt Shaw - South CarolinaDean Ray - TennesseeDavid Keigan - FloridaRegion 4Torch RunnerAmber Dunn - IllinoisBarrett Brewer - KentuckyTodd Durham - MichiganNate Samples - OhioRegion 5Torch RunnerRay Dirksen - IowaMatt O’Hara - MinnesotaMarcus Taylor - NebraskaScott Price - South DakotaJoel Wener - WisconsinRegion 6Torch RunnerBrian Arnold - ArkansasJeremiah Waters - KansasDiana Sanchez-Edwards - LouisianaAmanda Geno - MissouriFran Singleton - OklahomaMichelle Walter - TexasRegion 7Torch RunnerScott Waite - ArizonaDawn Ballas - ColoradoKuilee Dela Cruz - HawaiiDarryl McDonald - NevadaBrittany Mahnesmith - New MexicoJodi Williams - Northern CaliforniaKim Unland - Southern CaliforniaRegion 8Torch RunnerMatthew Fraize - AlaskaNathan Gifford - IdahoTiffany Monroe - OregonPatrick Gilbert - WashingtonKeith Groeneweg - WyomingRegion 9Torch RunnerPanayiotis Polyviou - CyprusPetr Matlach - Czech RepublicMargus Pala - EstoniaOrlando Vinas - GibraltarDadi Thorkelsson - IcelandJuris Dzérve - LatviaArthur Huijzer-Trommels - NetherlandsNicki Martin - Northern IrelandIan Saville - Republic of IrelandRoss Christie - ScotlandRegion 11Torch Runner ProgramLisa Bruschetta - British ColumbiaKim Robinson - Nova ScotiaBill Dickson - OntarioBraylon Hyggen - AlbertaLynette Wells - Newfoundland-LabradorRegion 12Torch RunnerAlex Lee - Chinese TaipeiRyan Lo - Hong KongJong Hwa Kim - KoreaRegion 14Torch RunnerJason Nilan - New South WalesStacey Ward - QueenslandMichael Klose - South AustraliaMatt Volk - VictoriaChris Newman - Western Australia
It is my goal to give you a timeframe on the next anticipated Team Communication, so you are not constantly anticipating when the next batch of information will be delivered. With that said, Team Communication #2 will be sent the week of December 12, 2022.
In that message, we will introduce you to the Management Team, Team Leaders Logistics/Advance Teams, Torch Operators, and the Documentation Team.
Team Communication #3 will likely be delivered the first week of the New Year. In that message, we will announce the formation of each of our eight running teams, to include the Team Leaders, Torch Runners, and athletes. We also hope to roll out our Fundraising Event, which should be spectacular!
I am pleased to share with you that the Athlete Selection Committee completed its work this past week and all programs have been notified of the committee’s selections. We are planning a special announcement for each athlete selected to our team, which will be pushed out by Shawn Byrne, our social media guru on all of our channels in the coming weeks.
While all of that is taking place, our colleagues in Germany are selecting the 10 German law enforcement officers who will be joining us on this most spectacular journey.
I know all of you have at least a million questions, but I promise you, we will provide you with all the necessary information you need to plan and most importantly enjoy this incredible experience.
If you have any immediate concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Sincerely,
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