What: 10th Special Olympics World Winter Games
When: January 26 – January 29 – Host Town Program
January 29 – Opening Ceremonies
January 30 – February 5 – Competition
February 5 – Closing Ceremonies
Who: Team USA – 152 athletes and 61 volunteer coaches/staff members
Where: PyeongChang and Gangneung, Republic of Korea, site of the 2018 Winter Olympics
Special Olympics Team USA Sports: Alpine Skiing (43 athletes), Cross Country Skiing (27 athletes), Snowboarding (9 athletes), Snowshoeing (17 athletes), Speed Skating (11 athletes), Figure Skating (11 athletes), Floor Hockey (24 athletes and 8 unified partners) and Floor Ball demonstration.
Every two years, the world transcends the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture and religion to come together for the Special Olympics World Games. Alternating between summer and winter Games, this event is the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement, which promotes equality, tolerance and acceptance around the world. This prominent world stage brings attention to the Special Olympics movement and helps create positive, sometimes lifesaving policy change for people with intellectual disabilities in countries around the world. More than 4 million Special Olympics athletes train and compete in more than 170 nations across the globe.
More than 2,300 athletes from more than 110 nations compete in seven Olympic-type sports: alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, short track speed skating, figure skating, floor hockey and the demonstration of floor ball. More than 15,00 family, friends, volunteers and spectators are also expected to attend.
