Editorial: Step up for the Special Olympics

Every year, police officers make the trek on foot throughout the streets of Greater Los Angeles, carrying torches of hope and inclusion for developmentally disabled athletes.

In a show of solidarity with those who prove that there really is no barrier to sportsmanship, the annual torch run for the Special Olympics is a very public display of how athleticism — and the human spirit — can take many forms.

It’s something we can all root for, and a cause we should all remember to support throughout the year, not just on the day that police close down routes to escort the torches through Southern California.

Tip-A-Cop events and other fundraisers provide an important source of income for putting the event together. So next year, let’s not forget that public support should come in forms other than honking and waving from the sidewalk as participants run by.

These athletes have overcome disabilities that are award-worthy by any measure. It’s our job to make sure we provide them with the forum.