George Smith (second left), vice president of the Special Olympics International Executive Committee, yesterday takes a close look at a painting during an exhibition of artworks by mentally challenged people in Songjiang District held to promote the upcoming games.-Shanghai Daily

Shanghai Daily news

DHL Express announced yesterday it will sponsor the Special Olympics and its Law Enforcement Torch Run from for three years - a period that covers this summer's games in Shanghai and the 2009 winter games in Boise, Idaho, in the United States.

The Germany－based international express transport company will provide logistics support for the three-month torch run and deliver equipment for the Game's opening ceremonies. Company officials wouldn't say yesterday if the sponsorship plans also include a cash donation to the games.

This year's "Flame of Hope," which is traditionally carried by law enforcement personnel and Special Olympics athletes, will be lit in Athens on June 29, and reach Shanghai after traveling through 10 cities around the world.

"We are still discussing which 10 cities will host the flame and they will be announced as soon as we make our final decision, maybe before July," said Dr Shi Derong, deputy secretary general of the 2007 Special Olympic Games.

"We will leverage our network of hubs and gateways to move the flame across these cities using a combination of cargo planes and DHL vehicles or boats, to ceremony locations in each host city," said Dan McHugh, commercial senior vice president of DHL Asia Pacific.

After the World Summer Special Olympic Games in Shanghai, the 2008 flame will reside at DHL headquarters. It will again be lit in Athens in 2009, and makes across the globe to the 2009 Special Olympics Winter Games in Idaho.

Shi said he hopes the torch run will be able to raise awareness of the Games, and convey the Games' spirit of equality, inclusion and acceptance.

This year's Law Enforcement Torch Run will be the first time that the flame will be transported globally prior to the Games since the torch run began in 1981 in the US when Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise funds for, and increase awareness of, the Special Olympics.

This year's Special Olympic Games, which will run from October 2 to 11, will include 7,500 athletes from more than 160 countries and regions.