On 14 June 2023, the Special Olympics World Games torch (Flame of Hope) will be carried through the town of Rüdersdorf near Berlin on its way to the Olympic Stadium. The Host Town Programme in Rüdersdorf near Berlin will then culminate in the Inclusion Festival in the Museumspark.
At 10.45 am, the torchbearers will be officially welcomed at the Martin Andersen Nexö Cultural Centre (Kalkberger Platz 31, 15562 Rüdersdorf near Berlin), before the approximately 3 km run through the centre of Rüdersdorf begins at 11.00 am (see appendix). The approximately 100 international runners will be led at times by two athletes from the Rüdersdorf rowing club, Kalkberge, carrying the torch. In addition, pupils from the primary and secondary schools as well as the Heinitz Gymnasium, the local council, the police, the fire brigade and the hospital will be taking part.
Several classes from both schools, as well as numerous onlookers from the local community, are expected to line the route before the torch relay is welcomed at 11.30 am at the Museumspark (Heinitzstraße 9, 15562 Rüdersdorf near Berlin). Small flags will be handed out both at the Museumspark and to spectators along the route so they can wave them, creating an even greater Olympic atmosphere for the runners.
Immediately afterwards, the Inclusion Festival will be opened by Mayor Sabine Löser. The event will be hosted by Stephen Ruebsam, Managing Director of Museums- und Kultur GmbH Rüdersdorf.
As part of the Inclusion Festival, the Midria Band, the Ratatouille band from the Schule am Amselsteg in Neuenhagen and the rap band BUERO21 will be performing. There will also be hands-on sports activities, and Miguel Alejandro Lagos Miranda and his Batecleta will be there.
From 14 June 2023, the torch will be carried via the following stops to the Berlin Olympic Stadium, built on Rüdersdorf limestone, where it will be lit to mark the opening of the Games:
14 June 2023 | Fürstenwalde/Spree, Rüdersdorf near Berlin, Panketal & Bernau near Berlin, Eberswalde |
15 June 2023 | Rathenow, Brandenburg an der Havel, Teltow & Kleinmachnow, Potsdam |
16 June 2023 | Berlin boroughs: Treptow-Köpenick, Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Lichtenberg, Mitte |
17 June 2023 | Berlin boroughs: Mitte, Tempelhof-Schöneberg, Neukölln, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Spandau |
Full details of the Host Town Programme and the torch relay can be found at fackellauf.ruedersdorf.de