Reports from the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan

7 March 2005

Jumpei Kuramoto, Special Olympics Nippon (Japan), takes part in snowboarding divisioning competition at the Iizuna Resort Ski Ground in Iizuna Highland on 27 February during the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games. (Photo by Takamitsu Mifune/PHOTO KISHIMOTO) From 26 February – 5 March 2005, more than 1,800 Special Olympics athletes (meet athletes here) from 80 countries competed in seven sports at the 8th Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. This showcase event marked the first time the Special Olympics World Winter Games were held in Asia, and made Nagano the first city to have hosted the Olympics, Paralympics and Special Olympics World Games.   For athlete profiles and competition results, visit the 2005 World Winter Games Web site. A view of the competition Special Olympics holds Policy Forum on rights of people with intellectual disabilities Healthy Athletes provides more than 4,000 health screenings to athletes at 2005 World Games  Closing Ceremony: Games that "won the hearts of the world" end   The Games can change attitudes Ireland's legacy lives! Irish volunteers help out in Nagano Special Olympics Iraq team embodies Olympic Spirit Listen to this: Special Olympics Healthy Hearing helps athletes hear for the first time Playing by the rules: Former Special Olympics athlete and friend earn their stripes as World Games referees Athletes take charge at the Celebrity Snowshoe Race Volunteers are the heart of the Games First medals of 2005 World Games awarded Former U.S. President Clinton visits World Games Clinton delivers key message at Global Youth forum Opening Cermonies: 2005 World Winter Games Underway (New Photo Gallery added!) New research findings released at Education Forum in Tokyo On to Nagano: The 2005 Final Leg Special Olympics athletes around the world are ready for the 2005 World Winter Games "Flame of Hope" for the 2005 World Winter Games is lit in Athens  JAL Group supports the 2005 World Winter Games View athlete profiles and competition results  2005 World Winter Games overview  Visit the 2005 World Winter Games official Web site  “The 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be a flagship event of the Special Olympics movement in Japan and in Asia," said Kayoko Hosokawa, Chairperson of Special Olympics Nippon and the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games Organizing Committee. "It certainly will create a legacy that will provide greater awareness of the Special Olympics movement in the region and more sports opportunities for athletes worldwide than ever before."