ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Special Olympic athletes are lacing their shoes, stretching and focusing on their sports of choice for the Upstate Fall Classic competition this weekend in Webster. To get them started, local law enforcement gathered in Rochester Friday to show their support. It’s never too warm to light an Olympic torch. The Flame of Hope ignited Friday for the Law Enforcement Torch Run. For 32 years, local law enforcement agencies including Rochester Police, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police have served as “Guardians of the Flame” to support Special Olympic athletes in our region. As the athletes themselves prepare for competition this weekend, they said it’s great to start off on the right foot. “We are all together as like a family to us, like I said, like brothers and cops are all important to us. They do a lot for Special Olympics, like I said," Special Olympic Athlete Jacob Babcock said. "They have a lot going on, but you know what, we respect that, they do a lot for us, they raise a lot of money for us, and we are very proud and very blessed and honored to run alongside them." Runners took off down Culver Road, going about two and a half miles before ending at Parcel 5 in Rochester.