Special Olympics Winter Sports

In the hills near PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, Juergen Michael Bonner of Austria competed in the 2500-meter classical cross-country skiing race. Juergen's home country is set to host the next Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2017.

Olympic snowboarder Hannah Teter is a Special Olympics Global Ambassador for the sport of snowboarding, lending her voice to our mission to promote acceptance, inclusion, respect, and dignity for people with intellectual disabilities. “One of my brothers has an intellectual disability and I’ve always wanted to get more involved with Special Olympics," she said.

A winter sport that can be played just about anywhere--and which doesn't require warm clothing--floor hockey is one of Special Olympics' most popular winter sports. Because our athletes come from all around the world, ice is not always available.

On the snowy slopes near PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, Ekaterina Sazonova of Russia won gold medals in a variety of alpine skiing categories. Skiing is just one of our many winter sports, and each is practiced and competed in by our athletes with intellectual disabilities around the world.

Simran Kalra (left) and Krishna Gossain of Special Olympics Bharat (India) competed in figure skating in the 2013 World Winter Games, competing in an arena full of local fans. World Games competitions make big news in countries worldwide, helping Special Olympics expand our presence and change more attitudes -- and reach out to more adults and children with intellectual disabilities everywhere.

Snowboarder Ravil Khasanov of Special Olympics Russia earned two gold medals at the most recent World Winter Games: the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea.

At the 2013 Winter Games in PyeongChang, Carmen Rosa Garcia of Bolivia took home gold medals in the 400- and 100-meter events. Our world games give athletes with intellectual disabilities the chance to compete on a world stage, but there are also many thousands of smaller competitions worldwide, year round.