There was a lot of excitement in the air when the Special Olympic Games came to Campbelltown this morning.
Almost 300 athletes from every part of NSW converged on to Campbelltown City Bowling at Hollylea Road, Leumeah for the state competition.
Just after 8am selected athletes joined a group of local law enforcement officers for the traditional torch run and opening ceremony performed at Special Olympic events.
The torch, held by one law enforcement officer and an athlete, changed hands several times before the procession reached the front of the tenpin bowling venue.
As hundreds of athletes watched on, the flame from the torch was used to light the cauldron located at the top step of the bowling centre.
A huge cheer went up from the athletes, who also sang the national anthem with gusto a few moments later.
Once the oath of the Special Olympics was read out by an athlete, it was time for one last exciting part before the start of competition: photos of each team with the law enforcement officers.
An organiser of the event told the South West Voice that whenever a Special Olympics event comes to Campbelltown the local law enforcement officers are happy to be involved.
“Having the torch run adds excitement for the athletes taking part,’’ he said.
While the Special Olympics events have been going all over the world for more than 50 years, local law enforcement officers have contributed the torch run in recent years.
Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the Flame of Hope into opening ceremonies of local competitions. They also carry it into Special Olympics state, provincial, national, regional and world games.
More than a dozen of them from the Macarthur region took part this morning at the tenpin bowling Special Olympics in Hollylea Road.
