The following letter was published in the Saturday, July 24, 2010 edition of The London Free Press

Thank you for supporting the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games

On behalf of the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games organizing committee, we would like to extend our sincerest thank you to the people of the City of London and surrounding area who have given so freely of their time, energy and money to help ensure that the Special Olympic athletes, their coaches, friends and families had an opportunity to participate in these national games, and to experience the city of London at its best.

From all the volunteer directors of the Games Organizing Committee, to the more than 800 volunteers who signed up as soon as the opportunity was made available, and to all the business, organizations and government agencies from the municipal level to the federal government who donated funds and grants in the amount of $1.8 million, there is absolutely no question that these Games could not have been the resounding success they were without you.

You might be interested to know that More than 100,000 images were captured by a team of 16 volunteer photographers.

It took 4.5 years to plan the event, from the original bid submission to the closing ceremonies.

2,052 medals were awarded.

More than 132 prescription glasses were handed out as part of the Healthy Athletes Program.

There were 500 participants in the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Almost 26,000 meals served to athletes by UWO hospitality services.

Almost 9,000 people attended the opening ceremonies 5,528km was the longest distance travelled by an athlete - from Whitehorse, NWT London is fortunate to have people with such an open, generous spirit, and we would like to thank you all for helping make these Games an experience the athletes and their families will remember fondly for years.

Signed by the Tri-Chairs, Dianne Cunningham Darwin Semotiuk Murray Faulkner