With a dozen “last-leg” supporters running behind him and many on the sidelines cheering him on, John Norris proudly jogged to the center of the Americana at Brand with the Special Olympics torch in hand on Wednesday afternoon.
The torch will carry on for a few more days before it arrives this weekend for the start of the games at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Along with the burning flame, Norris, a Virginia native, brought along his passion for the event he´s held every four years.
“Special Olympics is a way of life for me,” said Norris, an athlete in the games who´s completed three marathons. “It´s helped improve my self-confidence and my self-esteem. Special Olympics motivates me to accept challenges so I work hard to reach those goals.”
His stretch of carrying the torch took him to Burbank, Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge before arriving in Glendale.
The Special Olympics was first held in 1968 and allows intellectually disabled youth to compete in a variety of sports.
Glendale is one of about 100 communities throughout the Southland that will be hosting a share of 6,500 athletes from 165 countries.
The city is housing athletes from the Dominican Republic and Bonaire, who were present for the arrival of the torch at the Americana, as well as the Republic of Armenia, whose representatives landed Wednesday night after a long flight.
Patrick McClenahan, president of the games, said he brought the torch´s flame from Athens, Greece, where the Olympics originated, to the East Coast. From there, police officers, dubbed protectors of the flame, escorted the torch bearers across the country.
During the torch ceremony, McClenahan asked everyone in attendance to extend both their arms out in the shape of the letter Y.
“That celebratory pose represents the courage, determination and joy of our athletes,” he said.
Mayor Ara Najarian also spoke at the event and welcomed the athletes, adding that the Special Olympics is an important event for all.
“It shows that it really doesn´t matter how fast you run, how many points you score … what´s important is that you compete and do it with all of your heart,” he said.