The 12th Special Olympics World Winter Games officially kick off Saturday in Turin, marking the first time Italy has hosted the event. Running until March 15, the Games bring together over 3,000 athletes from more than 100 countries, competing in a variety of winter sports, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floorball, short-track speed skating, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
Greece’s delegation includes 10 athletes competing in 4 different sports including Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Dance Sport and Snowshoeing.
In a ceremony held in Athens on February 25, the Flame of Hope was lit, a tradition that symbolizes the resilience and determination of Special Olympics athletes. The flame traveled through several locations, including a special visit to the Vatican for a papal blessing, before arriving in Turin for the grand opening ceremony.
The competitions are being hosted across multiple venues in Turin and the surrounding Piedmont region. The Pala Alpitour, one of Italy’s premier sports arenas, serves as the site for the opening ceremony and floorball events, while the Palasport Tazzoli is set to host figure skating and short-track speed skating. Snowboarding competitions are taking place in Bardonecchia, while Sestriere is the venue for alpine skiing events. These locations, many of which were used during the 2006 Winter Olympics, provide a world-class setting for the athletes to showcase their skills.
The last time Greece hosted the Special Olympics was the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens, where athletes competed for prizes in 27 different sports. The Games were kicked off in the historic Panathenaic Stadium, the site of the first modern Olympic Games.
Beyond the competition, the Special Olympics World Winter Games stand as a global platform for inclusion, providing athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to demonstrate their strength, discipline, and resilience on an international stage. Community support has been strong worldwide, with initiatives such as Market32/Price Chopper’s fundraising campaign pledging to match donations up to $10,000.
Thankfully, donations and charities like these make it possible for the Games to continue, with the next World Summer Games projected to be held in Santiago, Chile, in 2027, followed by the World Winter Games hosted in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2029.
