The Special Olympics Flame of Hope will conclude the NSW leg today (Friday 16 October 2026) at Albury as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), bringing together police, Special Olympics athletes, and the community ahead of the 2026 Special Olympics Australia National Games.
NSW took carriage of the flame from Queensland Police at Tweed Heads on Sunday 11 October 2026.
Over the past six days it has travelled through Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie,
Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney Olympic Park, Wollongong, Goulburn, Canberra and Wagga Wagga.
When the flame arrives in Albury Police Station at 10.15am it will be handed over to Victoria Police on the Murray River Crossing at Wodonga Place about 30 minutes later.
The flame will then conclude its journey in Melbourne for the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Special Olympics Australia National Games. The games will run from 19 to 23 October 2026, bringing together more than 850 athletes with intellectual disability and/or autism from across Australia.
Superintendent Paul Smith, APM, Commander of Murray River Police District said the event was a great way to bring the community and police together.
"All of us here in the Murray River Police District are very proud to be a part of this event," said Superintendent Smith APM.
"The event has now been running for a number of years, is extremely popular and always draws a large crowd."
"These athletes are an inspiration to all of us."
"We wish them all the best as they compete in Melbourne."
Law Enforcement Torch Run New South Wales President Scott Whyte APM said the Final Leg was one of the movement's most significant events.
"The Final Leg only takes place once every four years and is a special opportunity for police, the community and Special Olympics athletes to come together and celebrate everything the movement represents," Mr Whyte said.
"As the Flame of Hope travels through Albury today, we invite the community to come out, meet our athletes and help celebrate determination, achievement, inclusion and the power of sport to bring people together."
"The support shown by communities along the route helps us raise awareness of Special Olympics and create opportunities for people with intellectual disability and autism to participate, compete and thrive through sport."
Media and members of the public are encouraged to attend and support the athletes as they make their way through Albury.
