For Immediate Release

Farmington Police Sergeant and Special Olympics Athlete Selected for 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games Final Leg

New Mexico – We are thrilled to announce that Special Olympics athlete Shelby Peterson from Gallup, along with law enforcement Sergeant Travis Spruell from the Farmington Police Department have been chosen to join the Law Enforcement Torch Run® Final Leg for the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy. As part of the Final Leg team, Peterson and Spruell will carry the prestigious Flame of Hope through various cities in Italy from March 1 to March 8, acting as Guardians of the Flame®.

Only eight Special Olympics athletes and eighty-two law enforcement officers from around the world were selected for this honor, representing their local Torch Run and Special Olympics Programs. This significant event marks a long-standing tradition where law enforcement officers from around the globe participate in the Final Leg, leading up to the Special Olympics World Summer and Winter Games.

The Flame of Hope will commence its journey on February 25 with a ceremonial lighting at Zappeion Hall in Athens, Greece, using the sun’s rays. The flame will then travel to Rome for a blessing by the Pope before heading to Turin. Starting March 1, the Final Leg, comprising 90 law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes and a logistics team of 16, will escort the Flame of Hope through the Piedmont Region of Italy, culminating in its delivery to the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 on March 8.

“I am so excited, honored, and humbled to be one of the athletes chosen to run in the LETR Final Leg in Italy,” Peterson shared. “I will be the first Native American woman from the state of New Mexico representing the United States and the Navajo Nation Tribe. I cannot wait to meet new people, experience their culture, and eat their food. I love that through LETR, I’m able to go to new places, meet new people, and make lifelong friends.”

“Shelby is a strong Diné (Navajo) woman, and a beloved Special Olympics Gallup athlete and leader,” said Janie Lee Hall, Special Olympics New Mexico Area 6 Director. “Shelby’s teammates, coaches, family members, and the Gallup community are all very proud of her accomplishments and are thrilled to have her represent us by carrying the torch at the Special Olympics World Winter Games!”

Sgt. Travis Spruell also expressed his gratitude for being chosen to participate in the Final Leg. “It is an incredible honor to be selected by the state to represent New Mexico in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg,” Spruell said. “Supporting Special Olympics athletes and carrying the Flame of Hope alongside them is a privilege. I look forward to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to promote inclusion and celebrate the incredible athletes who inspire us all.”

About the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics

The Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) for Special Olympics is the largest world-wide grassroots fundraising and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics. The LETR mission is to increase awareness and resources for the Special Olympics movement, which provides year- round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Law Enforcement Torch Run has raised over 1 billion US dollars since 1981 for local Special Olympics programs. More than 100,000 law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes, referred to as Guardians of the Flame, carry the Special Olympics Flame of Hope through local communities to the Opening Ceremony of Special Olympics local, state, provincial, national and world games. For more information visit www.letr.org.

About Special Olympics

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With nearly four million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in more than 170 countries, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year. Engage with us on: X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Learn more at SpecialOlympics.org.

About Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025

The world’s largest sports and humanitarian event is coming to Turin, Italy. 1,500 athletes representing 102 countries will gather for the sporting experience of a lifetime—competing at the Winter Games taking place from 8 – 15 March. Sports disciplines featured are Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, DanceSport, Figure Skating, Floorball, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboarding and Snowshoeing.

Special Olympics, the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 Organizing Committee and Special Olympics Italy proudly thank our sponsors for their generous support and commitment, specifically The Coca-Cola Company, Proud Global Partner of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 and Founding Partner of Special Olympics; Toyota Motor Europe, Presenting Sponsor and Mobility Partner; Intesa Sanpaolo Bank, Presenting Sponsor; and our Main Sponsors Brightspot, Lions Clubs International Foundation; and Official Sponsors ESPN and Robe di Kappa.

We also thank regional and local Italian organizations for their support of the Winter Games: the Italian Government Federal Ministries of Sport and Youth, Tourism, and Disabilities, Piedmont Region, City of Turin, City of Bardonecchia, City of Sestriere, City of Pragelato, the Italian National Olympic Committee and the Italian Paralympic Committee.

For more information on the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit https://www.turin2025.org