Europe/Eurasia

Although figure skating athlete Nuranay Habybova could only communicate with her delegation, she could easily express herself on the ice.

“Being able to ski a really tough course, that’s been my highlight. And now I’ve done it,” shares Team Ireland’s treasured alpine skier, Lorraine Whelan, waving her ski poles in the air as she dances with the crowd in Sestriere. Travelling through snow-capped Sestriere, for the alpine skiing competition at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025, the name Lorraine Whelan is met with recognition and awe.

Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® Ribbon Cutting Ceremony marks the opening of Healthy Athletes screenings at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin.

On Tuesday 18 March, Tuttosport, one of Italy’s leading sport newspapers, published an article on Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP) skier Samuele Tron and his coach, Andrea Tron, who is also his father. The following is an excerpt from the newspaper on the impact of MATP and the work of Samuele and Andrea to grow inclusive sport for all:

"I have been dancing for 12 years, and I am going to the Special Olympics World Games," says Andrea Tomasoni. "Dancing is like talking to my soul..."

Doug Claus has never been to Kosovo, but as Delegation Assistant Liaison volunteer for the country, he has been an integral part of the operation for the group during and has become family during their time at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin.

Dominika Oravcova holds up a Special Olympics Slovakia flag at the alpine skiing medal ceremony, cheering loudly for her sister, Michaela, who has just won the bronze medal.

With the lighting of the ‘Flame of Hope’ at Turin’s Inalpi Arena on Saturday night, the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games were officially declared open, marking the start of the world’s largest sports and humanitarian event of the year.

A vision of poise and finesse, on the ice and off, Uzbekistan Figure Skater, Sitora Ergashova brings home her first gold win at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025! Fresh from receiving her medal, Sitora exclaims, “I feel… I can’t even explain it, amazing!”

Ukrainian Floorball athlete, Diana Khomenko and her team proudly take home silver on Saturday, March 15, just as the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 come to a close.