The European Union has pledged significant financial support to the upcoming Special Olympics World Winter Games, which begin in Austria on 14th March. Through the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, funds totalling €6 million have been granted to Special Olympics, and the Games Organising Committee in Austria, to ensure the success and ongoing positive legacy impact of the event.
Games Kick Off 14 March
The Games in Austria will be one of the largest humanitarian and sport events anywhere in the world this year. 2,700 athletes, including more than 1,200 from the European Union, will compete at the Winter Games which take place in Graz, Schladming-Rohrmoos and Ramsau in Austria. In all, 107 nations will send delegations with athletes arriving to experience the Host Town cultural programme in locations across Austria from 14th March. Over 3,000 volunteers will help ensure the smooth running of the Games.
A spectacular Opening Ceremony will take place on 18th March in Schladming and signals the commencement of the sporting competition. Athletes aged 8 years of age to 68 years of age will compete in nine sports including Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Floor Hockey, Floorball, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, and Stick Shooting at venues in Schladming-Rohrmoos, Graz and Ramsau, Austria with a Closing Ceremony on 24th March in Graz.
In advance of the official start to Games, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® Final Leg for the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games, will take place from 9 March – 18 March. A team of 129 members—which includes 84 law enforcement officer runners, 10 Special Olympics athletes, and logistics personnel—will serve as Guardians of the Flame as they run the Flame of Hope through 45 cities, towns and communities in Austria.
World Games Promote Awareness of the Impact of Special Olympics
The World Winter Games is a flagship event on the Special Olympics calendar and takes place once every four years. It incorporates a range of sporting and non-sport activities which are all designed to provide equal opportunities to athletes with intellectual disabilities.
European Union is a Longstanding Supporter
The Games also provide a platform for the promotion of inclusion and respect, which are the cornerstones of the Special Olympics movement. As part of the 2017 World Winter Games there will be: a Host Town programme, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, sports competitions, Healthy Athletes programme, which offers health services and information to athletes in dire need, Youth Summit, which brings young people with and without intellectual disabilities together to learn and network, as well as significant awareness campaigns and media outreach.
The European Union’s backing of the Games—via the Erasmus+ programme, which finances education and training across Europe—will be vital in ensuring that the event is a success and that the legacy of the Games will extend across the Union in the months and years ahead.
Commenting on the significance of the EU’s support, Mary Davis, Special Olympics Chief Executive Officer drew parallels between the two organisation’s determination to promote equality and tolerance across the 28 member states. “Special Olympics embodies many EU goals including delivering social inclusion, human rights, the right to participate in sport, opportunities for volunteering and the right to healthcare on a daily basis.
“We are incredibly grateful and thankful for the very generous and continued support of the European Union to help us change the image that the public has around people with intellectual disabilities. Their support around our Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria will allow us to raise the profiles of all European athletes as they participate in this major global sporting event and introduce many Europeans to experience full inclusion.”
The European Union is a long-standing supporter of Special Olympics. It has provided financial support to Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, which encompasses the 28 EU member states, since 2009. The EU funds have been used on a variety of sport and health focused projects which have all helped to significantly improve the health and well-being of European citizens with intellectual disabilities.
Many major Special Olympics Games have benefited from EU funding, including the 2010 Special Olympics European Games in Warsaw, Poland, the 2014 Special Olympics European Games in Antwerp, Belgium, and the 2010 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Special Olympics is present in all 28 EU member states.
Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics said: "The European Union is very happy to provide financial support from Erasmus+ to the Special Olympics, an important event which contributes to social inclusion and underlines the importance of sport for everyone. For 30 years, the Erasmus programme has been enriching the lives of Europeans, and this event is proof of it."
In response to the EU’s generous support, joint Austria 2017 managing directors Marc Angelini and Markus Pichler said: "The whole of Austria is excited to host the Special Olympics World Winter Games for second time. Over the past number of years, the Games Organising Committee, together with Special Olympics International, have worked tirelessly together in order to ensure that we deliver an event that will not only open hearts and minds across Styria and Austria, but will leave an everlasting impact felt around the entire European Union and beyond. The tremendous support from the European Union and the Erasmus+ programme means that these Games will deliver on those promises. Come March 14th we know that Austria, thanks to this support, will truly be the heartbeat for the world. We cordially welcome all athletes, coaches, families and guests and hope they enjoy their time in Austria.”
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 5 million athletes and Unified partners in more than 170 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and over 108,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company, United Airlines, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, Microsoft, Lions Clubs International, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, Safilo Group, and TOYOTA. Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium.
Contact
Fiona Hynes
Special Olympics
fhynes@specialolympics.org
+353 87-1342820