Area law enforcement to carry Special Olympics Torch through Douglas County
UPDATE: 8:50 A.M. Tuesday morning rain and thunderstorms in Douglas County have delayed the Special Olympics Torch Run locally. A spokesman for the sheriff’s office said area officials will make a decision at 11 a.m. on whether to run with the torch at all. If a run is conducted, it will be at and around the Lawrence Police Department headquarters at 5100 Overland Drive. The torch will be transported to Ottawa for its scheduled run to continue later today.
Area law enforcement officers are on tap to carry the Special Olympics Torch through Douglas County on Tuesday morning.
According to a social media post from the Lawrence Police Department, the torch will begin its local journey at 8 a.m. from police headquarters, 5100 Overland Drive. It will make several transfers along its route with estimated arrivals at Club Car Wash, 4850 Bauer Farm Drive, between 8:10 and 8:20 a.m.; Oread Hotel, 1200 Oread Ave., at 9 a.m.; and Allen Field House, 1651 Naismith Drive, at 10 a.m. before heading on to Eudora en route to its final destination in Maize.
Spectators for the run might want to bring an umbrella. The National Weather Service on Monday evening predicted a 60% chance of showers after 4 a.m. Tuesday and a 90% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4 p.m. The Journal-World reached out to LPD about whether the event would go on rain or shine, but did not receive an immediate response.
According to its website, the Special Olympics provides year-round training and competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The 2025 Kansas Summer Games are scheduled for Friday through Sunday with events to include track and field, bocce, soccer and tennis at Maize High School, 11600 W. 45th St. North.