Greensboro police join Special Olympics torch run through Guilford County

Greensboro police officers and Guilford County sheriff’s deputies carried the Flame of Hope through Guilford County at 7:30 a.m. on May 21, connecting a local relay to Special Olympics North Carolina’s biggest awareness push. The Guilford County leg was part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, an international fundraising campaign that brings police, deputies and other officers into the effort to support athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics North Carolina said the Guilford County relay featured runners from the Greensboro Police Department and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. The department also highlighted community support for the event in photos shared as the torch passed through Greensboro. On its city page, Greensboro police said its men and women are proud to support Special Olympics North Carolina, which organizes sporting competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The run through Guilford County was one stop on a much larger statewide route. Special Olympics North Carolina said the Flame of Hope traveled across the state from six starting points during April and May, covering more than 2,000 miles before reaching Raleigh. The journey was set to culminate on May 29 with the Circle of Honor and cauldron lighting at the 2026 Special Olympics NC Summer Games Opening Ceremony.

Special Olympics North Carolina described the Torch Run as the largest awareness campaign for the Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting the organization’s athletes. In North Carolina, nearly 2,000 law enforcement personnel support the campaign each year. Special Olympics North Carolina serves more than 38,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities through year-round sports and athletic competitions.

For Guilford County, the relay reflected a long-running local tradition that links Greensboro and county law enforcement with Special Olympics athletes, families and volunteers. It also showed how the Torch Run remains more than a ceremonial pass-through: it is part of the funding and visibility that help keep Special Olympics competitions on the calendar for thousands of athletes across the state.