It’s been said, “If you can explain the Final Leg, then you didn’t experience the Final Leg.” After being part of the journey in Italy, I believe that’s completely true.
At its heart, the Final Leg is about delivering the Flame of Hope from Athens, Greece, to the athletes of the Special Olympics World Games. As a member of the 17-person logistics team, our job was to ensure the Final Leg team had everything they needed to carry the flame with pride and purpose.
But the journey began long before we arrived in Turin. Months of preparation and virtual meetings built not just excitement, but real connections. You could feel the energy grow with each Zoom call, especially from the eight athletes who would run as part of the team. Their joy was contagious and set the tone for what was to come.
Once we touched down in Italy, it was boots on the ground. Many of us had never worked together before, but from the very beginning, we were united. Rank or title didn’t matter; only teamwork, passion, and the mission. Everyone shared the same goal: to support the athletes and the Final Leg.
One of my favorite memories was greeting team members as they arrived. They arrived after long flights, clearly exhausted, yet glowing with excitement. Watching the athletes walk into the hotel registration area with wide smiles, ready to receive their credentials and Final Leg gear, was unforgettable. In those moments, it felt like time stood still.
The lead-up to Day 1 was electric. That’s when the real work began, and also when the team truly started to bond. The logistics team spent a lot of time in vehicles, traveling from the route start to the ceremony location each day. That time was a gift. I got to know my teammate, a former law enforcement officer with a son who has special needs, who shared moving stories with me. Every morning, he would record a short video to send home to him. It was a simple gesture, but incredibly powerful. Moments like that reminded me why we do this.
Each day demanded early mornings, flexibility, and commitment. Our logistics team was split into two smaller groups that alternated between covering starting points and ceremonies, but at the end of every day, we regrouped as one. We always made sure we finished together.
The ceremonies were a highlight for all of us. Watching athletes and officers speak side by side, coach, encourage one another, and lift each other up was powerful. I will never forget hearing an athlete whisper, “You got this,” to a nervous officer right before he gave a speech. I saw that same support returned again and again. These weren’t just teammates anymore. They had become a family.
You can’t really explain the Final Leg. But if you’re lucky enough to be part of it, it stays with you. The experience, the people, the purpose, it becomes a part of who you are forever.
