Flame of Hope makes way through Rotorua for Special Olympics

With the Special Olympics Summer Games set to kick off later this month, local athletes showed their excitement as the Flame of Hope torch made its way through city central.

The Flame of Hope parade yesterday was made up of Special Olympic athletes, volunteers and school kids as they marched through the CBD, ending at the lakefront.

Year 2 pupil Ngawai Tumata, 7, and her Owhata Primary school classmates joined the parade in support of the local athletes.

"It's really fun because we made our own torches to carry in the parade."

The Flame of Hope parade making it's way through the CBD. Photo/Ben Fraser

The Summer Games begins on November 27 in Wellington and is the largest event for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Rotorua will be sending a team of 45 athletes and 20 volunteers.

Athletes will compete in 11 sports at 10 venues across Wellington and the wider region.

Local athlete Matthew Gibbs, 22, was the first to carry the torch and couldn't wait to get to Wellington.

"I'm really excited to compete this year and catch up with the friends I made last time."

His mother, Shona Gibbs, who is the chairwoman for Special Olympics Rotorua said it was great to see her son compete.

"When he was young he always wanted to play sports like his siblings but felt left out so it's awesome to see him feel included."

PARADE: Allan Carroll, (left), and Senior Sergeant Malcolm Collins carry the flame through Rotorua's Eat Streat. Photo/Ben Fraser

Born with Williams syndrome, Gibbs will compete in his fourth Special Olympics event.

He won gold in ten-pin bowling last time around and he hoped to bring home another.

The parade was escorted by police as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR).

LETR sees local police from around the country escort the torch from region to region while raising awareness of the Special Olympics.

Constable Mark Hunt said it was awesome to be part of something so big.

"I'm good friends with Matthew Gibbs' brother so it feels great to show them my support and make sure they enjoy themselves."

A group of local athletes, police and supporters from the parade standing outside the Rotorua Hospital. Photo/Ben Fraser

Shona Gibbs said the chance of bad weather wouldn't have stopped the parade from going ahead.

"This was our only opportunity to hold the parade so the rain wouldn't have changed a thing. It was now or never."

She said Special Olympics Rotorua had raised $80,000 to get the team to Wellington.

"There was a while where we thought it was a hard figure to reach but we got there in the end.

"We had a lot of help with fundraising from the police and there was a great community effort as well."