The 10th Special Olympics World Games began in PyeongChang
January 29, 2013: The 10th Special Olympics World Games began in PyeongChang,
South Korea on 29 January and will continue till 5 February 2013. The Winter Olympic
Games are dedicated to athletes with intellectual disabilities. Athletes from 113
nations will be participating in this year’s event. The 2013 event will feature world-class
competition in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowboarding and
speedskating, among other sports. The event will be one of the largest winter multi-sport
events ever held in South Korea.
Every two years, thousands of Special Olympics
athletes worldwide come together to showcase their athletic skills and celebrate the
spirit of Special Olympics. The first Special Olympic World Games took place in 1968
and since then have evolved into a world-class sporting event, attracting a wide range
of sponsors, supporters and media.
Alternating between Summer Games and Winter
Games, Special Olympics World Games bring public attention to the talents and capabilities
of people with intellectual disabilities, helping to change attitudes and break down
barriers that excluded them from the mainstream of the community.
The PyeongChang
Games will also provide a venue for global discussions and action on the impact Special
Olympics can have on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. More than
200 million people worldwide have an intellectual disability, making it the largest
disability group worldwide. Intellectual disability crosses racial, ethnic, educational,
social and economic lines, and can occur in any family.