Flame of Hope burns through Taranaki
Bad weather wasn’t enough to deter athletes’ spirits as the Special Olympic’s torch made its way through New Plymouth.
The Flame of Hope was flanked by Taranaki police and Special Olympic athletes who teamed up to carry the flame through the city on Friday.
Around 40 athletes took part in the event and some took the opportunity to have a photo with the flame. One of those was Louis Paulin, 19, who is an avid swimmer and won gold at the last Olympics in Dunedin in 2013.
‘‘I like to do the back stroke, breaststroke and freestyle,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s pretty cool to hang out with my friends and share this moment.’’ Community liaison for Taranaki Down Syndrome Association Hannah Wilson said Louis liked to keep fit and active and worked out at a local gym twice a week.
‘‘He also swims twice a week, sometimes more when he can,’’ Wilson said. She said this event was a special opportunity for Louis to come together with his friends and other athletes.
‘‘It’s a chance to feel really proud of what he’s doing and that he can achieve incredible things.’’
The event is part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run which will see two olympic torches make their way down the country to Wellington for the start of the Special Olympics National Summer Games 2017 on November 27.