Four international top floorball players, Mika Kohonen, Tero Tiitu, Dominika Steglova and Nina Bärtschi have become the first ever Special Olympics Floorball Ambassadors.

The Special Olympics Floorball Ambassadors will work to shed light on the dignity of people with intellectual disabilities & build support for Special Olympics and its message of acceptance and inclusion for all people with intellectual disabilities.

Michael Phelps, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Zhang Ziyi, Padraig Harrington & Nadia Comaneci are just some of the current Special Olympics Ambassadors.  Mika Kohonen - voted the World's Greatest Floorball player - Tero Tiitu, Dominika Steglova and Nina Bärtschi will now join this list as Special Olympics Floorball Ambassadors in the Europe Eurasia region.  They will have a direct impact on the lives of millions of people, in their home countries and around the world and will build support for the work of Special Olympics.
 
“The International Floorball Federation and Special Olympics signed a Proclamation in 2011 strengthening co-operation between our organisations. Mika, Tero, Dominika and Nina are the first Special Olympics Floorball Ambassadors and their involvement will greatly enhance the fantastic sport of floorball within Special Olympics. Floorball is the latest sport to be added to the list of 30+ sports offered by Special Olympics. 2,000 Special Olympics athletes compete in Floorball in 17 countries worldwide.  I have no doubt our new Ambassadors will ensure this number grows. Floorball will be one of the highlight sports of the upcoming 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games taking place in Pyeong Chang, South Korea from January 29th to February 5th.  Our sincere gratitude to the IFF and to Mika, Tero, Dominika and Nina from all at Special Olympics,” said Mary Davis, Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia.

“This is a great honour for me. I am myself studying Special Education and it is a real pleasure for me to be able to share the joy of floorball to players with an intellectual disability. I have already been contacted by the Special Olympics organisation in the Czech Republic and we are looking forward to working together,” says Czech national team player Dominika Steglova.

The 10th Special Olympics World Winter Games is a multi-sport event for athletes with an intellectual disability and takes place from January 29th to February 5th 2013 in South Korea. Floorball is a demonstration sport at these Games. In addition to floorball athletes will compete in eight sports including Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Snowboarding, Snow Shoeing and Speed Skating. The Special Olympics Sports Committee (CTAC) selected 8 Programs (nations) to participate in the Floorball demonstration match in Korea: These Programs are Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Russia, Austria, Sweden and South Korea. Special Olympics Floorball in Korea 2013 will be played with 3 players + goalies on the field and each team will consist of an 8 persons squad + 2 coaches in each team.

Watch Finnish Floorball Champion Tero Tiitu here talking about his passion for Special Olympics.

Visit www.floorball.org