The competition gets underway today at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin and in the Italian Alps at Sestriere.
Ireland is one of 100 international delegations, taking part, together representing the diversity and global footprint of the Special Olympics movement.
These are the first Special Olympics Winter Games to be staged since 2017, and excitement is high amongst the 1,500 athletes competing in eight different sports in venues across Turin, and the Piedmont region.
Team Ireland has eight players in the Men’s Floorball tournament and six competing in the mountains across Slalom, Super G and Downhill Skiing.
We will follow their stories over the coming days, as well as bringing stories from the large Volunteer group that has travelled out from Ireland to support the games.
“Special Olympics creates a welcoming space for everyone. Turin 2025 is our biggest opportunity to show the world what is possible when you choose to include,” said Lou Lauria, Chief, Sport and Competition, Special Olympics.
Turin 2025 has brought together 1,500 athletes from 100 nations, competing across eight winter sports: alpine skiing, cross country skiing, DanceSport, figure skating, floorball, short track speed skating, snowboarding and snowshoeing.
Some 1,000 coaches and delegations’ officials will support the delegations in their competition efforts, while an estimated 2,000 volunteers will ensure the smooth running of the Turin Games.
In a significant step towards gender equity at Special Olympics games, 45.61% of athletes and Unified Partners (playing partners without intellectual disabilities), are female, up from 32% at the World Winter Games 2017, which were held in Austria.
In terms of the geographic breakdown of delegations, the largest contingent of delegations’ hail from the Special Olympics Europe Eurasia region, with 51 national programs sending delegations to compete at the Turin Games.
In addition, 18 delegations will travel from the Special Olympics Middle East North Africa region to compete, whilst nine delegations are making the trip from the Special Olympics Asia Pacific region.
From Africa region, there are five delegations headed to Turin for competition, whilst Special Olympics East Asia and Special Olympics Latin America both have six delegations in competition action. Finally, four delegations will travel to the Turin Games from Special Olympics North America region. Completing the list is the Special Olympics Independent Athletes delegation.
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
It is a privilege to be in Italy this week with Team Ireland and to see at first hand the impact that sport has on the lives of those who some would say do not deserve this chance. Tim Shriver’s speech in the presence of Usha Vance, together with her presence will hopefully make an impact on the cuts being applied to funding of programmes for inclusion in America and around the world.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Today is the first full day of competition and the games will continue until Saturday.
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