Area couple records Special Olympics in Greece

David and Andrea Kramer returned from Athens Greece this week after a three-week photography assignment with the International Final Leg Law Enforcement Torch Run.

The run was part  of the World Summer Games for Special Olympics.

The Kramers, who own and operate Stampede Lake Studio in Bonners Ferry, were two of three photographs selected to document the event. 

The International Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg team is made up of 100 law enforcement officers from all over the world, 10 special Olympic Athletes and 30 support staff.

 Law enforcement officers are traditionally the Special Olympic torchbearers as Guardians of the Flame. They carried the Flame of Hope representing their nations. 

The Torch Run journey began on June 9, with the torch being ignited by the sun’s rays in Athens at the archealogic site of the Sphinx, then continued to Athens, passing by the Acropolis, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Acropolis museum and the Hellenic Parliament to a special ceremony at Zappeion, a building in the National Gardens of Athens.

On June 6, The Kramers and other team members arrived in Athens. After the Olympic flame was lift, the volunteers were split into three teams to cover the routes.

The first route began its journey through Greece’s eastern mainland and Sporades Islands passing through 40 Greek towns and Constantinople.

Andrea Kramer was assigned to cover the second route which crossed the entire Peloponnese, western mainland and Lonian Islands. They had ceremonies in 64 Greek towns which included speeches by a law enforcement torch bearer and a Special Olympics Athlete torch bearer and local officials. 

The ceremonies usually included a presentation of local customs like cultural dancing and a taste of local foods.

Dave Kramer was assigned to route three where he spent two days on Cyprus before continuing by ferry to the other Aegean islands: Crete, Sifnos, Paros, Antiparos, Santorini and Rhodes.

His route ended at the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. The ceremony Was attended by Tim Shriver and Maria Shriver.

On June 24, the three teams met in Athens to run past the hospitality centers where the athletes participating at the Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011 will be residing.

The flame was delivered at the Acropolis Sacred Rock to the presidential honor guards to guard the flame overnight.

The flame was received back from the presidential honor guards by the Torch Run team on June 25, where it ended its journey at Kallimarmaro Panathenaic Stadium (marble) stadium where they lit the cauldron to proclaim the opening of the Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011.

Each community treated the runners and flame bearers with open arms, despite the turmoil that Greece is experiencing.

Upon arriving in Athens, the Kramers heard loud protests a couple blocks from their hotel, and had several of the Greek National Police riot team staying at the same hotel.

They said they did not feel threatened. 

What was  impressive were the 10 Special Olympic Athletes selected to be part of the 10 teams that made up the Final Leg Torch Run Team. The Kramers  enjoyed learning about the history of Greece and visiting and photographing its ancient sites.

The web site to view images is www.flickr.com/photos/2011letrfinalleg. 

The athletes and law enforcement officers on the team represented 44 countries.