BON VOYAGE!

Scott Whyte and I will both be away for a few weeks beginning this week (Scott is gone now, and I  depart on Friday). We will have wifi connectivity, but quality is still in question. Please be patient on any messages directed to us knowing that we will respond as quickly as possible. 

Upon our return (on or about 15 March) we hope to announce and launch our Signature Fundraiser and the fundraising platform.

Uniform kits are being ordered this week and payments by the programs will be accomplished through the fundraising platform. More information will be provided in March regarding those payments.

 

Travel to Berlin

 

TRAVEL TO BERLIN FOR TORCH RUNNERS AND ATHLETES

With less than 120 days to go till the start of the 2023 LETR Final Leg, it's now time to get your flights booked to Berlin.

Depending on your decision regarding the Athens Flame Lighting Ceremony opportunity, you will be flying from your home city to Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER) or from your home city to Athens and then onwards to Berlin.

Flights for Team Leaders and Logistics Team members will be organised by the Final Leg Planning Committee, following consultation with the individuals.

In the past, flights for Torch Runners were also organised centrally by the Final Leg Planning Committee with LETR Programs reimbursing the LETR Council for the cost.  

In 2023, we have decided that Torch Runner's flights should be booked and paid directly by their LETR or SO Program.

TORCH RUNNERS TRAVELING WITH ATHLETES

In the case where a Torch Runner is travelling with one of the eight Special Olympics Athletes from the same program, we would ask that the LETR or SO program book the flights through World Travel. When the program contacts World Travel at the email link below, advise them that you are booking travel for a Torch Runner AND an Athlete. In the subject line type: Final Leg - Athlete. Please CC Kami Delameter at kdelameter@specialolympics.org on your email. World Travel will bill the program for the Torch Runner and bill Special Olympics (Kami Delameter) for the Athlete's travel. Once the flights have been confirmed, please use the "Submit Flight Details" link below as soon as possible so we may accurately schedule transportation from the airport.

Torch Runners and Athletes need to arrive in Berlin on Monday, 12 June 2023 (no later than 2.00pm) and depart Berlin at the conclusion of the event on Monday, 19 June 2023. 

Here is the information you will need to provide World Travel for the Torch Runner and the Athlete :

Legal Name:

DOB:

Cell phone number:

email address:

Passport Info:

Home airport code:

Destination airport code: BER

Dates of travel:

Known traveler ID (if applicable):

World Travel: specialolympics@worldtravelinc.com

TORCH RUNNERS ONLY 

In the instance when a program is booking travel only for a Torch Runner, you may use any travel booking arrangement that best suits the program. Programs are more than welcome to use World Travel, and the email link is below. If you choose to use World Travel, please advise them in your initial email that you are booking for a Torch Runner only for the LETR Final Leg in Berlin. Programs will pay directly for the cost of the flights. Once the flights have been confirmed, please use the "Submit Flight Details" link below as soon as possible so we may accurately schedule transportation from the airport.  

Torch Runners need to arrive in Berlin on Monday, 12 June 2023 (no later than 2.00pm) and depart Berlin at the conclusion of the event on Monday, 19 June 2023. If Torch Runners choose to stay in Europe for additional time, that is a decision that must be made between the Torch Runner and their program.

Here is the information you will need to provide your booking agent:

Legal Name:

DOB:

Cell phone number:

Email address:

Passport Info:

Home airport code:

Destination airport code: BER

Dates of travel:

Known traveler ID (if applicable):

World Travel: specialolympics@worldtravelinc.com

In a move that may surprise many of you, we have developed another form to collect the flight booking information.  We have done this because we need to have a record of all flights to and from Berlin to ensure that team members arrive and are met in Berlin.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT FLIGHT DETAILS

If the Torch Runner has decided to participate in the Athens Flame Lighting Ceremony, they may decide to travel into Berlin earlier than June 12, however any accommodations necessary PRIOR to June 12 will be the responsibility of the Torch Runner. 

There are no issues with this occurring, but the individuals need to understand that they probably won't be met at the airport in Berlin and will have to arrange their own transportation.

Please reach out to either Mark McCorkle or Scott Whyte if you have any questions about this process.

Registration to attend Athens Flame Lighting

 

ATHENS FLAME LIGHTING CEREMONY

We are pleased to announce that we are proceeding with plans to provide a rare opportunity to Final Leg Team Members to travel to Athens in the lead up to the 2023 LETR Final Leg to witness and participate in the Flame Lighting Ceremony.

We published a post earlier this month seeking 'Expressions of Interest' from team members in an effort to gauge the level of interest.

It was great to receive close to 20 positive responses to the EOI request.

It's now time for team members to take the next step and commit to this pre-event activity.

KEY TIMELINES

Here are the key dates that you need to know before agreeing to attend this event:

Tuesday, 6 June 2023

• Participating team members arrive in Athens

Wednesday, 7 June 2023

• Flame Lighting Ceremony 

• Torch Run following the ceremony

Thursday, 8 June - Sunday, 11 June 2023

• On your own - you are free to remain in Athens, travel elsewhere in Europe or arrive early in Berlin

Saturday, 10 June 2023

• Logistics Team members to arrive in Berlin

Monday, 12 June 2023

• Team Leaders, Torch Runners & SO Athletes to arrive in Berlin (no later than 2.00pm)

Tuesday, 13 June 2023

• Event Preparations

• Team Welcome Dinner

Wednesday, 14 June - Saturday, 17 June 2023

• Final Leg Torch Runs

• SO World Games Opening Ceremony (17 June)

Sunday, 18 June 2023

• 'Freezing for a Reason' Team Fundraiser
• Visits to Games Events
• Team Recognition Dinner

Monday, 19 June 2023

• Final Leg team departs Berlin

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

There are a few Conditions that need to be understood and met by Final Leg Team members planning to attend the Flame Lighting Ceremony:

• All costs related to attendance at the Flame Lighting Ceremony and leading up to your scheduled arrival date in Berlin would be borne by the individual.  This would include additional travel costs, accommodation and meals.

• Final Leg Team members interested in the opportunity will need to speak to their respective Programs to ensure that their decision to participate is supported.

• Those Torch Runners who will be accompanying an athlete to the Final Leg will need to carefully consider the needs of the athlete before committing to this opportunity.

OTHER INFORMATION

Once we have established how many team members have committed to this event, we will create a WhatsApp group to communicate and update participants on the planning.

We will investigate accommodation options in Athens and work out costs and room sharing possibilities for participants.  You will not be compelled to stay in the this accommodation - you can stay wherever you wish.

The closing date for registrations for the Flame Lighting Ceremony is Saturday, 4 March 2023.

Please click on the link below to confirm your registration.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY

You should note that this is not an opportunity that is generally afforded to Final Leg Team members.  The last time that team members were present at the Flame Lighting Ceremony was in 2011 - because the World Games were held in Athens that year.

 

FINAL LEG UNIFORM UPDATE

WHAT DOES THE UNIFORM KIT CONTAIN?

The 2023 LETR Final Leg Uniform Kit will contain the following items:

• Backpack
• Baseball Cap
• Lightweight Zippered Jacket
• 4 x Augusta 'Nexgen' Wicking T-Shirts
• 2 x Polo Shirts
• 2 x Running Shorts (Team Leaders, Torch Runners & Athletes)
• 4 pairs socks

There are four running days - you will have a t-shirt for each of those days.  The polos will be worn at the team dinners.

WHEN & HOW DO I RECEIVE MY UNIFORM KIT?

We expect that the uniform kit will be ready for distribution in around 4 - 6 weeks.

If you live in Canada or the USA, Wills Enterprises will be shipping the  Uniform Kit directly to you.  We need all Canada & US based team members to complete the 'Final Leg Shipping Details' form, supplying us with your shipping address.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SHIPPING FORM (CANADA & US ONLY)

If you live anywhere else, we will be shipping the Uniform Kit directly to Berlin where it will be waiting for you.

Please note that the socks will not be shipped with the Uniform Kit - you can collect them in Berlin.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO TAKE?

We have two planned dinners during the event.  The first (Welcome Dinner) will be held on Tuesday, 13 June and the second (Team Recognition Dinner) will be held on Sunday, 18 June.

Please bring a pair of khaki pants (see below) to wear with the team polo shirt for these events.

There will be further information provided about personal items that team members need to consider taking to Berlin.

Follow up on Blog Survey

 RESULTS FROM THE FINAL LEG BLOG SURVEY

Just over a week ago, I created a post (Are you out there?) in an attempt to gauge how many members of the Final Leg team were accessing and utilising the Final Leg Blog page.

The numbers are in - encouraging but not mind-blowing.

56 members of the team responded to the survey with six being unsure of the value of it and one person not liking it.  I'll be reaching out to those people sometime in the next couple of days to see if I can work out their issues.

So - 56 of you read the post and filled in the survey - I wonder how many more of you are out there who have been visiting the blog pages but didn't fill in the survey?  You might well think that this is not too important, but your management team needs to be confident that the entire team is receiving the messages and information we are sending out.

If you are from an LETR / SO Program who received an email from Mark inviting you to view the Blog, please tell us you are doing so as well.

So if you are reading this and have not filled in the survey, please click on the link and do it now.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE BLOG SURVEY

EOI - Flame Lighting Ceremony

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SOUGHT

The Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for a Special Olympics World Games event traditionally commences with the Flame Lighting Ceremony held in Athens.

This year, planning is underway for the ceremony to take place in Athens on Wednesday June 7.

The Final Leg Planning Committee is currently considering an idea where we will offer Final Leg Team members an opportunity to travel to Athens to witness the spectacle of the Flame Lighting Ceremony and take part in the Torch Run that follows the ceremony.

Take a look at the 2019 Flame Lighting Ceremony video to get an idea of what is involved

THERE ARE A FEW CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO THIS PROPOSAL

The arrangements for the Flame Lighting Ceremony are still being discussed and therefore we cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide this opportunity to Final Leg Team members.

All costs related to attendance at the Flame Lighting Ceremony would be borne by the individual.  This would include additional travel costs, accommodation and meals.

Torch Runners will need to be in Berlin on Sunday, June 11 to prepare for the Final Leg.  The Flame Lighting Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, June 7.  The individual would be be free to do whatever they wished between June 8 and June 10 - stay in Athens - visit a Greek Island - come to Berlin earlier.

Final Leg Team members interested in the opportunity will need to speak to their respective Programs to ensure that their decision to participate is supported.

Those Torch Runners who will be accompanying an athlete to the Final Leg will need to carefully consider the needs of the athlete before committing to this opportunity.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW

The next step in this process will be for interested Final Leg Team members to register an Expression of Interest using the form shown below.  

Depending on the numbers interested, we would establish a 'WhatsApp' group to keep everyone in the loop and try and make arrangements for accommodation and post Ceremony activities.

Final Leg Team members participating in the Torch Run following the Flame Lighting Ceremony would be expected to wear a Torch Run shirt from their home program.

Submitting an Expression of Interest does not lock you into attending / not attending - we are simply trying to gauge interest at this time.

Please submit your Expressions of Interest by Friday, February 10.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST