Special Olympics honors Rockland traffic officer

ROCKLAND – City traffic officer Troy Peasley has been selected by Special Olympics Maine to run the final leg of the International Law Enforcement Torch Run at the World Games in Shanghai, China.

Peasley will depart for China in late September and will be running alongside more than 100 other officers representing all 50 states and 50 countries.

In addition to the officers, 11 Special Olympic athletes from around the world, including Maine athlete Chris Oster, will also participate in the run.

Peasley will begin his run on Sept. 24 and will help carry the Special Olympics Flame of Hope across parts of China and then to the opening ceremonies in Shanghai. Police officers from around the world serve as Guardians of the Flame and make sure it arrives safely at the games. The torch was lit in Athens, Greece, the site of the last Olympics, on June 29 and is currently traveling around the world, making stops in 10 global cities, before being handed off to the runners.

Peasley has been a volunteer for Special Olympics for many years. The Special Olympics World Games will take place Oct. 2-11 and will offer 25 Olympic-style sports to over 7,500 athletes. Maine will be sending four athletes to participate in aquatics, athletics, bocce and equine. More than 40,000 volunteers, 3,500 officials and thousands of family members and friends are expected to attend the games.

Special Olympics is a year-round athletic training and competition program for persons with disabilities of all ages. Nearly 3,000 participate in Maine. The world games and final leg take place every two years for winter and summer competitions.

In Maine, more than 600 members of law enforcement participate in the torch run and carry the Maine Flame of Hope across the state and to opening ceremonies at the summer games in Orono.

For more information on Special Olympics Maine, visit specialolympicsmaine.org. For more information on the world games or final leg, visit specialolympics.org.