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SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD WINTER GAMES 2017 IN AUSTRIA!
Local Program to Send xx Athletes to Represent Country Name
CITY, STATE/COUNTRY, 14 September 2016. The countdown is on! In exactly six months from today, the Special Olympics World Winter Games, being held in Austria, will get underway andinsert # athletes from Special Olympics insert Program will be there representing insert country name. More than 3,000 athletes from 108nations will travel to Graz, Schladming and Ramsau and compete across nine sports. Special Olympics Program name will be represented in insert # sports: [list them]
INSERT QUOTE FROM COACH/PROGRAM SPOKESPERSON REGARDING DELEGATION PARTICIPATION.
Over 15,000 people will participate in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2017. In addition to the 3,000 athletes expected from 108 countries, there will be 5,000 family members, 1,100 coaches, 1,000 mediarepresentatives, 3,000 volunteers and 1,200honored guests expected.
"We are excited to bring the Special Olympics World Winter Games to Austria and are working closely with Special Olympics International to deliver an event that will not only open hearts and minds across Styria and Austria, but will leave an everlasting impact felt around the world, said Hermann Kröll, President of Special Olympics Austria and the 2017 games.
The Special Olympics World Winter Games is one of the biggest sporting events ever to take place in Austria. Over the course of the next six months, the Games Organizing Committee will work alongside sponsors, partners, volunteers and the media to further promote the World Games.
“In exactly six months the beautiful country of Austria will host a World Winter Games that will showcase and celebrate the skills and gifts of over 3,000 athletes who have trained hard to represent their countries on an international stage,” said Mary Davis, Acting CEO, Special Olympics International. “We are excited to see Austria open hearts and minds, creating opportunities for inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities leading to equality, acceptance and change in society whilst, at the same time making an invaluable contribution to the quality of life of the athletes and their families, both in Austria and globally.”
INSERT QUOTE FROM YOUR NATIONAL DIRECTOR/SPORTS DIRECTOR.
Nine Sports in Three Regions
Athletes will compete in nine sports at world class venues in Graz, Schladming and Ramsau. The Convention Center and the Town Hall in Graz are real "Olympic Centres"and the redeveloped ice rink in Liebenau will be a perfect site.
Sports and venues at a glance:
Graz: Floor hockey, Floorball and Stock sports (Convention Center)
Graz: Figure skating and Speed skating (Ice Hall Liebenau)
Schladming and Rohrmoos: Alpine Ski and Snowboard (Slope 32)
Ramsau: Snowshoeing and Nordic skiing (World Cup Stadium)
Torch Relay and Host-Town-Program
The Games will officially begin with the Opening Ceremony kicking off in Schladming (World Cup Stadium Planai) on 18 March 2017. Prior to Opening Ceremony, on 2 March, the Special Olympics Flame of Hope for the Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017 will be lit during a formal torch lighting ceremony in Athens and then travel to Austria. The Law Enforcement Torch Run will begin on 9th March in Bregenz (Vorarlberg), then the Flame of Hope will be carried throughout all nine Provinces in Austria.
The Final Leg Team (100 members strong) carrying the Flame of Hope throughout Austria will becomprised of law enforcement runners, Special Olympics athletes, and Logistics Team members from 46states and 24 countries around the world representing 79 Torch Run programs. The route for the Torch Run is currently being determined. Final Leg Team Captain, John Newnansaid,
"The Final Leg Team will be running with the Flame of Hopeas Guardians of the Flame, throughout 49 cities, towns and communities across Austria creating excitement for the World Winter Games and honoring the spirit of the Special Olympics global movement. The Team will be delivering a message of hopeforpeople with intellectual disabilities around the world as they continue to fight for dignity, respect, acceptance and inclusion.It’s an honor for our team to salute the 3,000 athletes competing in the Games and the over four million Special Olympics athletes worldwide that train and compete every day.The Final Leg Team is excited to embark on this historic mission that will leave a last legacy in Austria.“
TheFlame of Hopewill visit the following areas:
March 9, 2017: Vorarlberg
March 10, 2017: Tirol
March 11, 2017: Salzburg
March 12, 2017: Upper Austria
March 13, 2017: Lower Austria
March 14, 2017: Vienna
March 15, 2017: Burgenland
March 16, 2017: Carinthia
March 17-18, 2017: Styria
Before the Special Olympics World Games begin on 18 March, 2017, Special Olympics athletes will be welcomed to Austria with a three day “Host Town” program from March 14-16 2017. The Host Town program will welcome the athletes to Austria before the start of the World Games, giving them the welcome of a lifetime with three days of cultural events, training and rest.
International delegations are spread throughout Austria – from Vorarlberg to Burgenland. As of25 August 2016, more than 75 delegations already were assigned a Host Town in different regions and all delegations will be assigned before the end of the year. The Rotary Clubs of Austria is playing an essential role in the Host Town Program, helping to organize and cover the costs incurred by the visits of athletes and coaches in the regions.
Please click here to learn more about becoming part of the Host Town program:
For more information on the Final Leg Torch Run:
Media registration and hotel for journalists
Media registration will open on 26 September 2016 on