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Russia to host Special Olympics Winter Games for 1st time

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Russia to host Special Olympics Winter Games for 1st time


25.01.2021

Photo credit: pixabay.com

Russia will host the Special Olympics Winter Games next year, the Pobeda RF website reports. For the first time in more than 50 years of the movement's existence, athletes with intellectual disabilities from more than 100 states of the world will gather in the country.

The Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin called this tournament one of the most important sporting events. The head of the department recalled that it is aimed at increasing the socialization of people with intellectual disabilities through sports. In addition, the tournament makes it possible to draw public attention to the issue of creating equal opportunities for all Russians without exception.

Special Olympics differs from the rest of the competition in that it does not seek to find a winner. At such Olympiads, there is no fixation of the nationality of the participants and the "team scores" between different countries.

It is planned that the competitions will be held in Kazan exactly one year later, they are scheduled for the end of January 2022. The capital of Tatarstan has extensive experience in hosting large-scale sports events of all levels. Test competitions will be held in Kazan early next month.

Traditionally, the Olympic program for people with disabilities brings together several hundred athletes. It includes competitions in seven sports: snowboarding, floorball, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowshoeing, figure skating and short track speed skating.

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