On January 19, Special Olympics is celebrating World Snow Day by renewing its MOU with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
FIS, the leader and governing body of Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined and Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding, is continuing its work with Special Olympics programs to provide quality snow sport experiences, specifically in alpine skiing, cross country skiing and snowboarding, to people with and without intellectual disabilities around the world.
Through FIS, Special Olympics skiers and snowboarders have, and will continue to gain, greater access to snow sport experiences, access to better facilities and more slopes, as well as better coaches and coaching opportunities.
FIS and Special Olympics have also collaborated on the Special Olympics 10 which are tips for anyone interested in coaching individuals in snow sports. Additionally, FIS has provided Special Olympics ski and snowboarding coaches with educational guides to help teach and coach people with intellectual disabilities who compete in snow sports.
Special Olympics athletes are participating in FIS’s World Snow Day celebrations by participating in FIS’s video challenge, “How the best enjoy the snow,” which invites people to take a video of themselves saying and/or showing how they best enjoy snow.
The challenge will be judged based off creativity and will continue until the 26th of January.
In addition, in just 48 days Special Olympics will be hosting its World Winter Games in Turin, Italy from 8 to 16 March. These Games will see more than 1,500 athletes from 102 delegations competing in 8 sports in an international demonstration of inclusion, acceptance, and unity.
FIS representatives will attend the World Winter Games in Turin where they will have the opportunity to observe the technical aspects of the event as a learning opportunity and watch Special Olympics athletes skiers and snowboarders compete in the Olympic-styled disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, and Snowboarding as well as see five other sports: DanceSport, Figure Skating, Floorball, Snowshoeing, and Short Track Speed Skating.