2015 Special Olympics relay torch arrives in Southern California

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The 2015 Special Olympics Summer Games are almost here. Monday kicked off the first day of the central leg of the relay torch run.

Police agencies are partnering with athletes like 29-year-old Alexander Good in the South Bay leg of the law enforcement torch run. Good has Down syndrome and a collection of medals for basketball.

The games are more than athleticism on display, but more about looking forward to new possibilities. With each medal, the athletes earn more confidence.

Maggie White, 22, says she is "pretty good" in three sports.

White's mother says sports competition changes the athletes' bodies and their minds.

"She was very shy. She didn't want to compete. She wouldn't talk to anybody," Linda White said.

Now, after 14 years of participation, Maggie White is an extrovert, willing to take on challenges. These skills transfer to other aspects of life.

Parents want the public to know that these athletes desire more than trophies. They want a chance to prove they can also excel in the workplace.

"They are out looking for jobs. They want to be like everybody else. It is so, so difficult," said the Palos Verdes mom.

Police officers note the athletes' resilience.

"They are never down on themselves, which is very inspirational," says Vanessa Ryan of the Torrance Police Department.

Local law enforcement has partnered with the Special Olympics since 1981. Last year departments in Southern California raised $1.4 million dollars for local athletes.

The relay will wind through Southern California until the Summer Games begin on June 12. Whether it is on the road or at the games, the athletes welcome the crowd's support for what the Olympians have achieved already and where they could go from here.