It’s called the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, and Britton native Scott Price had the honor of representing South Dakota and the United States at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany, two weeks ago.
Price, a 2008 Britton-Hecla graduate and the son of Pam Price and the late Terry Price of Britton, has been a member of the Watertown Police Department since 2013. That’s where his interest in the Special Olympics began.
“When I first started in Watertown one of my supervisors was pretty heavily involved in the Torch Run and brought me into it,” said Price. “With the background that my folks had with charitable giving it was right up my alley.”
About seven years ago Price began to be actively involved in fundraising activities and now serves as the assistant director for the South Dakota Torch Run.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run had its beginning in 1981 and was started by the Wichita, KS, police chief with just six runners. Its’ sole purpose is to raise awareness of Special Olympics and to raise funds. Now it is the biggest grassroots fundraising movement for Special Olympics in the world. It has a presence in about 50 countries and expectations are that this year its total fundraising efforts since its inception will top the $1 billion mark.
Every two years, the Special Olympics World Games are held. This brings about a special torch run called the Final Leg Run, during which, law enforcement, together with Special Olympic athletes, run the Flame of Hope throughout the host country for the games, spreading awareness for Special Olympics, and culminates with the lighting of the cauldron for the Flame of Hope at the opening ceremonies. That’s what Price was selected to be a part of.
“I got a call last September that I had been selected to do this just a couple of days before Dad passed away,” noted Price. “It’s a huge honor and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Price was part of a group of 94 people that included 86 law enforcement officers and eight Special Olympics athletes from all around the world. He and his wife, Ashley, left for Athens, Greece, on June 5 and participated in the lighting of the Olympic Torch.
Torch Lit in Greece
“They light the torch using curved mirrors and the power of the sun, just like the original Olympic Games. The torch never goes out from the time it is lit in Athens to the opening ceremonies in Berlin. It was pretty special to be part of that at the very beginning.”
The torch went by plane from Athens to Berlin and that’s when Price was part of the team carrying the torch throughout Germany. The group did four days of running and did five stops each day, covering about 40 miles in all. He ran through rural areas very similar to Marshall County and also various districts in Berlin before the group delivered the torch to the opening ceremony. Price also had the opportunity to see the first day of the World Games before returning home.
Experience Life-Changing
Price called the experience “life-changing.”
“It’s an experience I’ll never forget. I met people from around the world with hearts as big as the moon, and it was such a blessing to be part of a like-minded group. It’s really hard to put into words.
“In my law enforcement job I see a lot of the negative side of people and deal with them on their bad days. So it was special to be part of a movement started by law enforcement that is so positive and for such a good cause. It also reminded me that people all over the world feel the same way, and I can count them as friends and family now.”
Price admitted that it was somewhat surprising to him on how people from different countries and cultures formed what very well could be lifetime bonds.
“People from every country, even if there was a language barrier, were so real. And when we were traveling through the province of Brandenburg it was just like Marshall County with agricultural fields and deer stands. I was 3,000 miles from home and meeting people just like the hometown folks I grew up with. It was surprising how quickly relationships formed.”
Perceptions Changed
The group was also able to change some perceptions of Americans.
“One of the German officers said he was so glad he had the opportunity to meet us because he had a negative perception of Americans, thinking of them as arrogant loudmouths. But he said, ‘When I got to know you guys it was like you were my best friends, down to earth and good people.’ It really made me realize that we are so alike even though the cultures are so different,” said Price.”
Price considers his trip as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but he is quick to point out that the Torch Run is so much bigger than the law enforcement officers who participate. It is all about the Special Olympics and the Special Olympians who compete all around the world.
“Aside from the fundraising, the other part of the Torch Run is to recognize and celebrate the athletes,” stressed Price. “We are able to interact with them, give them highfives, and get them excited for the next Games. A lot of them would also recognize us from the Torch run and wanted to take pictures with us.
“We had the opportunity to do so much personally, but my biggest hope is that I can bring back some things to South Dakota that will be a benefit to Special Olympic athletes in our state,” concluded Price. “Everything that happens goes back to the athletes. It’s all about them, and the whole trip was for those guys and girls.”
