Press Releases in 2008
Special Olympics: U.S. Embassy Athens Welcomes “Flame of Hope”
Athens (November 13, 2008) -- Flanked by 140 Greek and American runners, including young athletes who will compete in the upcoming VIII 2009 Winter Special Olympics to be held in Idaho, U.S. Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard welcomed the “flame of hope” in the courtyard of the U.S. Embassy in Athens yesterday, November 12. “This flame of hope embodies the classical Olympian values -- embraced by the United States and by Greece -- of excellence, friendship, respect, tolerance, individual effort, courage and enthusiasm,” he said.
Runners from the Hellenic Police Academy and the American Community School joined the Ambassador and the Greek athletes in the Embassy courtyard, where American diplomats and Greek staff assembled to welcome the flame of hope in a ceremony broadcast live on Hellenic Public Television (ERT). Joining the Ambassador and other dignitaries at the podium were Rita Zoumaya, an American Special Olympics athlete who is the daughter of Philip and Linda Zoumaya, and Ms. Loretta Claiborne, an American who thanked the Special Olympics for changing her life.
Following the ceremony, the Ambassador hosted a luncheon at his Residence where
Dr. Timothy P. Shriver, President of the International Special Olympics Committee, and Mr. George Fisher IV, President of the Organizing Committee for the Idaho Games, exchanged gifts with Ms. Yianna Despotopoulou, President of Special Olympics Hellas. Mr. Michael Corcovan of DHL accepted thanks for his company’s role in transporting the flame of hope from Athens to Dubai and other major world cities as it makes its way to Idaho for the February 3-14, 2009 events.