2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games

The 2017 Special Olympic World Winter Games officially called 11th Special Olympics World Winter Games is a Special Olympics, a multi-sports event that was held in Austria from March 14 through March 25, 2017.[1]

11th Special Olympics World Winter Games

Host city	Graz and Schladming, Austria
Motto	Heartbeat For The World (German: Herzschlag für die Welt)
Nations participating	113
Athletes participating	2,277 (1,555 Male & 722 Female)
Events	27 events (9 sports)
Opening ceremony	March 18
Closing ceremony	March 26
Officially opened by	Alexander Van der Bellen
Summer
Winter

Overview

City of Graz which won the bidding and is holding the 11th Winter Special Olympic World Games

It was announced in 2012 that the host city for the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games would be Graz and Schladming in Styria, Austria.[2]

The opening and closing ceremonies were broadcast in the United States on ABC and ESPN. Most events were played live or re-aired on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNNEWS throughout the games.[3]

The games

Reception

With 113 nations participating all were invited to the Reception in Vienna after the teams arrived. At the Reception teams and nations could meet other athletes, take photos and talk to media from all over the world. This first Special Olympics World Games had ever done. The Reception took place on March 16, 2017 at the city hall of Vienna Rathaus, Vienna.

Arrivals

Teams being welcomed at Vienna Airport

(left) France being welcomed at Vienna International Airport by supporters (right) Canada supporters hold the Canadian flag while welcoming the Canadian team to Vienna.

Most athletes arrived at Vienna International Airport on March 14, 2017, and were given Special Austria 2017 necklaces and gear for their stay.

The teams from Ghana and Afghanistan were denied visas to travel to Austria to compete. The grounds for denial conveyed to the Ghana team were that Austria believed that the athletes would not return to Ghana after the competition. Tim Shriver, chairman of the board of Special Olympics International, said: "On paper, six athletes of more than 2,500 did not attend the 2017 World Games. But for those six, it is a nightmare."[4]

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was on March 18, 2017. The games were officially opened by Alexander Van der Bellen. Jason Mraz and Grace VanderWaal, with a choir of children from Schladming and Special Olympics global messengers, performed "I Won't Give Up." Helene Fischer performed "Fighter".[5]

Nations participating

  *   Host nation

China at the 2017 Special Olympics Reception in Vienna, Austria

Nations participating
		Athletes[6]
Country		Male	Female	Total		Events
Africa
Burkina Faso	7	3	10	Floorball
Ivory Coast	12	7	19	Floorball
Ghana	10	0	10	Floorball
Kenya	12	0	12	Floor Hockey
Namibia	13	7	20	Floorball
Nigeria	20	0	20	Floorball, Floor Hockey
South Africa	18	6	24	Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating
Uganda	16	0	16	Floor Hockey
Asia Pacific
Afghanistan	2	2	4	Snowshoeing
Australia	9	3	12	Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding
Bangladesh	15	13	28	Floor Hockey
Bharat	45	45	90	Alpine Skiing, Floorball, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Indonesia	8	0	8	Floorball
Malaysia	2	2	4	Snowshoeing
New Zealand	10	3	13	Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding
Pakistan	6	6	12	Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Serendib	6	2	8	Floorball
Singapore	13	1	14	Floorball, Speed Skating
East Asia
China	44	32	76	Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating Snowshoeing
Chinese Taipei	26	14	40	Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Hong Kong	31	16	37	Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Nippon	37	17	54	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
South Korea	46	19	65	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Snowboarding
Macau	5	5	10	Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Mongolia	12	2	14	Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Snowshoeing
Europe
Andorra	4	1	5	Alpine Skiing
Armenia	1	0	1	Cross-Country Skiing
Austria*	230	90	320	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing, Stick Shooting
Azerbaijan	10	0	10	Floorball
Belarus	9	0	9	Cross-Country Skiing
Belgium	15	11	26	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing
Bosnia and Herzegovina	8	8	16	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing
Bulgaria	4	4	8	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Croatia	19	10	29	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Cyprus	16	6	22	Floorball, Floor Hockey
Czech Republic	21	11	32	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Snowboarding
Denmark	10	4	14	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Figure Skating
Estonia	12	4	16	Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball
Finland	25	9	34	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing
France	16	13	29	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
North Macedonia	1	0	1	Alpine Skiing
Georgia	2	5	7	Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, Snowshoeing
Germany	48	27	75	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing, Stick Shooting
Gibraltar	14	1	15	Alpine Skiing, Floorball, Snowshoeing
United Kingdom	9	12	21	Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating
Hellas |	12	2	14	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Hungary	23	10	33	Alpine Skiing, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Iceland	2	2	4	Figure Skating
Ireland	24	2	26	Alpine Skiing, Floorball
Isle of Man	9	3	12	Floorball, Snowshoeing
Israel	12	2	14	Floorball, Snowshoeing
Italy	21	13	34	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing
Kazakhstan	14	12	26	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing
Kosovo	1	1	2	Alpine Skiing
Kyrgyzstan	2	1	3	Alpine Skiing, Speed Skiing
Latvia	14	6	20	Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Snowshoeing
Liechtenstein	4	4	8	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing
Lithuania	25	4	29	Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing
Luxembourg	13	11	24	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Stick Shooting
Moldova	2	0	2	Speed Skating
Monaco	17	6	23	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Montenegro	4	2	6	Alpine Skiing, Snowshoeing
Netherlands	15	10	25	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowboarding, Speed Skating
Norway	23	12	35	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Snowboard, Speed Skating
Poland	32	14	46	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Romania	9	6	15	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Snowshoeing
Russia	50	29	79	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
San Marino	4	0	4	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Serbia	10	9	19	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing
Slovakia	10	6	16	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Figure Skating
Slovenia	10	8	18	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Spain	30	22	52	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing
Sweden	30	11	41	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Snowshoeing
Switzerland	38	12	50	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Snowboarding
Tajikistan	4	4	8	Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Turkmenistan	2	1	3	Figure Skating, Speed Skating
Ukraine	16	2	18	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey
Uzbekistan	9	10	19	Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Latin America
Argentina	11	5	16	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing
Chile	4	4	8	Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding
Costa Rica	18	2	20	Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing
Cuba	12	0	12	Floor Hockey
Dominican Republic	2	2	4	Snowshoeing
Mexico	29	4	33	Floorball, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating
Uruguay	0	9	0	Floorball
Venezuela	16	6	22	Floorball, Floor Hockey, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Middle East
Algeria	16	0	16	Floor Hockey
Brunei	2	2	4	Snowshoeing
Egypt	18	2	20	Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing
Iran	11	0	11	Floor Hockey
Iraq	2	2	4	Snowshoeing
Jordan	4	4	8	Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Lebanon	5	4	9	Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Libya	2	0	2	Snowshoeing
Morocco	16	2	18	Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing
Oman	2	2	4	Snowshoeing
Palestine	2	0	2	Snowshoeing
Qatar	5	0	5	Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Saudi Arabia	6	0	6	Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Syria	4	2	6	Cross-Country Skiing, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Tunisia	16	2	18	Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing
United Arab Emirates	20	3	23	Floor Hockey, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
North America
Canada	68	40	108	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
Jamaica	18	0	18	Floor Hockey, Speed Skating
Saint Lucia	12	4	16	Floor Hockey
Trinidad and Tobago	10	6	16	Floor Hockey
United States	82	57	139	Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floor Hockey, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Snowshoeing
		1,555	722	2,277

Events

The following events are taking place at Austria 2017:[7]

• Alpine skiing ()
• Cross-country skiing ()
• Floorball ()
• Floor hockey ()
• Figure skating ()
• Snowboarding ()
• Speed skating ()
• Snowshoeing ()
• Stick Shooting ()

Calendar

OC

Opening ceremony

●

Event competitions

1

Gold medals

EG

Exhibition gala

CC

Closing ceremony

March	18 Sat	19 Sun	20 Mon	21 Tue	22 Wed	23 Thu	24 Fri	25 Sat	Gold medals
Ceremonies	OC							CC
Alpine skiing		●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Cross-Country Skiing		●	●	●	●	●	●	●
Figure skating		●	●	●	●	●
Floorball		●	●
Floor hockey			●	●	●	●	●	●
Short Track Speed Skating		●	●	●	●	●	●
Snowboarding		●	●	●	●	●	●
Snowshoeing		●	●	●	●	●	●	●
March	18 Sat	19 Sun	20 Mon	21 Tue	22 Wed	23 Thu	24 Fr	25 Sat	Gold medals

Broadcasting

The 2017 World Games will be broadcasting on the following broadcasters in the following country:[8]

•  Austria – ORF
•  Brazil – ESPN Brasil
•  Canada – TSN2, Sportsnet
•  New Zealand – Sky Television
•  United Kingdom – BBC
•  United States – ESPN, ESPN2, ABC
•  India – ESPN

References

1. "World Games Overview". Special Olympics. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
2. "Special Olympics World Games came to a close Sunday with the traditional extinguishing of..." LATimes. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
3. "Special Olympics World Games TV schedule". ESPN.com. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
4. "Ghana, Afghanistan denied visas to enter Austria for 2017 Games". ESPN.com. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
5. "Helene Fischer stellte bei den Special Olympics in Schladming ihren neuen Song "Fighter" vor". schlagerplametnet.com. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
6. "Austria 2017 World Games". Austria2017. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
7. Sports & Games. Special Olympics official website. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
8. "2017 World Winter Games Coverage". specialolympics.org. 2017. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.

External links

• Official Website

Preceded by Pyeongchang, South Korea

Special Olympics World Winter Games

Succeeded by Kazan