Latest news with #SpecialOlympicsWorldWinterGamesTurin2025
Mid East Info
14-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
UAE Athletes from Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 Celebrate Homecoming at Ski Dubai - Middle East Business News and Information
11 UAE athletes of determination return home with 16 medals after competing in six winter sports from 08-15 March in Turin, Italy Homecoming celebration was hosted by Majid Al Futtaim's Ski Dubai, in partnership with Special Olympics UAE and UAE Winter Sports Federation Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Majid Al Futtaim's Ski Dubai, in partnership with the UAE Winter Sports Federation, proudly welcomed the UAE delegation of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 at a homecoming celebration in their honour on 10 April at Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, reinforcing the nation's commitment to championing and advancing inclusion in sports. The UAE delegation, comprised of 11 athletes of determination, proudly represented the nation as its largest team to date at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Held from 08-15 March, the delegation achieved outstanding success, securing an impressive tally of 16 medals, including 4 Gold, 5 Silver, and 7 Bronze medals. During their homecoming celebration, the athletes showcased their world-class talent by performing a synchronised skiing and snowboarding run and carrying the UAE Flag and Special Olympics Flag on the snow-covered slopes of Ski Dubai, in front of their families, coaches, senior officials from the UAE Government, Special Olympics UAE, Majid Al Futtaim, and key media partners. The exclusive event was held in the presence of H.E. Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of the Special Olympics UAE, Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding, Ignace Lahoud, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment, Mohammad El Etri, Managing Director of Operations of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment, and representatives of Special Olympics UAE. H.E. Talal Al Hashemi, National Director, Special Olympics UAE, said 'We are incredibly proud of our athletes who represented the UAE with passion, perseverance, and pride at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Their remarkable achievement of 16 medals is not just a testament to their talent, but also to the power of inclusion and what can be accomplished when individuals of determination are given the opportunity to thrive. Our heartfelt thanks go to Majid Al Futtaim and the UAE Winter Sports Federation for their unwavering support in preparing our delegation. This homecoming celebration is a reminder of the progress we are making as a nation towards building a more inclusive sporting community.' Ignace Lahoud, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment, said, 'We are extremely proud to see our homegrown athletes achieve the historic victory they deserve. For over a year, our world-class facilities at Ski Dubai and Snow Abu Dhabi have been a training ground for their incredible talent, determination, and resilience, and now the rest of the world has witnessed it too.' 'Majid Al Futtaim is committed to making winter sports accessible for all, right in the heart of the desert. Through the transformative power of sports, we aim to foster inclusivity and celebrate diversity among people of determination. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Special Olympics and UAE Winter Sports Federation to continue achieving the extraordinary.' Since 2024, the ongoing partnership between Majid Al Futtaim and Special Olympics UAE have made winter sports even more accessible to athletes with intellectual disabilities by focusing on talent identification, team building, skill development, performance monitoring, and overall readiness, empowering them to reach new heights and represent their country on the global stage.
Khaleej Times
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Look: Heroes' welcome for UAE Special Olympics team after winning 16 medals at World Winter Games
After a year of intensive training, 11 determined Emirati athletes competed in six winter sports at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, held from March 8 to 15. The team returned home with 16 medals — four gold, five silver, and seven bronze. To mark their homecoming, a celebration was hosted by Special Olympics UAE at the newly launched Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates, in collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim and the UAE Winter Sports Federation. Families joined proudly to celebrate the athletes' achievements. The UAE delegation was the largest from the region. 'This is not just about medals,' said Mohammad El Etri, Managing Director of Majid Al Futtaim Entertainment. 'It's about pride and proving that with determination, even a desert nation can compete and win in winter sports.' El Etri added, 'Winter sports in the GCC actually started in the UAE. We were the first in the region to gain international recognition. With the next Asian Winter Games to be hosted in Saudi Arabia, this is a milestone for the region. The UAE has the facilities, the athletes, and the vision to keep pushing forward.' During the opening, partners and some winners made a presentation that featured an ice skating performance and the use of zip lines to carry the UAE flags. Coach Edgardo Guevara of Ski Dubai praised the team's resilience said, 'Despite the snow, fog, and terrible visibility, nothing stopped them — they gave everything and earned 16 medals.' He highlighted that training began in early 2024. 'We don't focus on diagnosis — we focus on skill, attitude, and heart. They never gave up.' Looking ahead, Guevara said, 'We're now preparing for the 2029 Special Olympics Winter Games in Switzerland. This is just the beginning.' Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE, said: 'One of our main focuses has been building on the legacy of the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi. Partnerships like the one with Ski Dubai helped us transition athletes into winter sports and achieve this level of excellence.' 'Every victory leads to a programme — how we build on that success through new initiatives focused on greater inclusion, more family involvement, and stronger community engagement. God willing, we have a clear plan to grow from this achievement,' He added.
Khaleej Times
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
UAE Special Olympics team clinches 16 medals at World Winter Games Turin 2025
The UAE delegation has achieved an exceptional sporting feat at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 wwhich wrapped up on March 16. The team clinched a remarkable total of 16 medals — four gold, five silver, and seven bronze — showcasing their incredible talent and determination. The UAE Special Olympics team, which included 11 athletes with intellectual and developmental challenges, showcased their skills across a range of winter sports, including snow running, cross-country skiing, figure skating, alpine skiing, short track speed skating, and skateboarding. This impressive achievement marks yet another milestone in the UAE's sporting achievements at the first Winter Games since Abu Dhabi hosted the 2019 World Summer Games. It is also the greatest achievement for the Middle East and North Africa region. Talal Al Hashemi, National Director of Special Olympics UAE and Head of Mission to Turin 2025, expressed his happiness with the exceptional achievement. He said that this accomplishment is the result of great effort and dedication that continued for several months of training and preparation.
Associated Press
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 – Largest Sports and Humanitarian Event of the Year – Draw to a Close
• Eight sport disciplines • 100 delegations • 1,500 athletes and Unified partners TURIN, Italy, March 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, the largest sports and humanitarian event of the year, drew to a close yesterday after a celebration of sport and inclusion. The 1,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities and Unified partners without intellectual disabilities – aged 15 to 66 years old – competed in eight sport disciplines from 8 to 15 March: Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, DanceSport, Figure Skating, Floorball, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing. Additionally, the Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP) offered athletes with profound disabilities the opportunity to showcase their sports skills through an adapted ski demonstration in Bardonecchia and a dedicated event in Turin. In addition to the competition, a number of activities took place on the sidelines, conveying the breadth and scope of the global Special Olympics movement. These included: Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® made possible by the Golisano Foundation, which offered health screenings for all athletes at the Games, a convening of the Global Coalition for Inclusion, the Global Youth Leadership Summit, and a Young Athletes demonstration, where children of all abilities aged 2-7 years learn gross motor skills through inclusive play. Athletes from 100 nations were supported by 2,000 volunteers, and over 500 credentialed media covered the Games, further spreading the message of inclusion. Among the guests who attended the Games were: Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni; President and First Lady of Poland, Andrzej Duda and Agata Kornhauser-Duda; Second Lady of the United States, Usha Vance; and European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef. Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 has been a proud moment for the entire movement, especially Europe, which is hosting its sixth World Games. Special Olympics Sargeant Shriver Global Messenger, Gilmour Borg, said, 'It is through making our voices heard that we will shape a more inclusive future. It is through our unity that we grow stronger and face every challenge, hand in hand, together.' David Evangelista, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia President and Managing Director, said, 'The determination, energy and skill shown by the athletes of Special Olympics here at the Games are a culmination of years of training, dedication and perseverance. They are a powerful and timely reminder to the world of the power of inclusion. Here in Turin, the athletes of Special Olympics are quite simply inclusion in motion.' ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS EUROPE EURASIA Special Olympics in Europe Eurasia encompasses a diverse range of cultures, languages, and customs, traversing 58 countries in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. From Iceland to Italy and Portugal to Uzbekistan, Special Olympics promotes respect, inclusion, and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports. ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD WINTER GAMES TURIN 2025 Every two years, Special Olympics holds its flagship event, the World Games, demonstrating sports excellence, which promotes equality, respect, and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. Transcending the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture, and religion, the world will come together to celebrate inclusion around the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Sestriere, Bardonecchia, and Pragelato, Italy, from 8 March – 15 March 2025. Nearly 1,500 athletes and unified partners, more than 1,000 coaches representing 100 countries, 2000 volunteers, and thousands more spectators will participate in and watch eight exciting winter sports and community events. This is the first time Italy has hosted the World Winter Games. Sports featured are Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Dancesport, Figure Skating, Floorball, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing. For more information on the 2025 Special Olympics World Games, visit and on social on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. Media contact:
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 – Largest Sports and Humanitarian Event of the Year – Draw to a Close
Short Track Speed Skating Action at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 Clemence Samaille Claims Silver in Alpine Skiing Special Olympics Athletes Share Celebratory Embrace Snowshoeing Competition in Full Swing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 • Eight sport disciplines • 100 delegations • 1,500 athletes and Unified partners TURIN, Italy, March 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, the largest sports and humanitarian event of the year, drew to a close yesterday after a celebration of sport and inclusion. The 1,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities and Unified partners without intellectual disabilities – aged 15 to 66 years old – competed in eight sport disciplines from 8 to 15 March: Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, DanceSport, Figure Skating, Floorball, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing. Additionally, the Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP) offered athletes with profound disabilities the opportunity to showcase their sports skills through an adapted ski demonstration in Bardonecchia and a dedicated event in Turin. In addition to the competition, a number of activities took place on the sidelines, conveying the breadth and scope of the global Special Olympics movement. These included: Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® made possible by the Golisano Foundation, which offered health screenings for all athletes at the Games, a convening of the Global Coalition for Inclusion, the Global Youth Leadership Summit, and a Young Athletes demonstration, where children of all abilities aged 2-7 years learn gross motor skills through inclusive play. Athletes from 100 nations were supported by 2,000 volunteers, and over 500 credentialed media covered the Games, further spreading the message of inclusion. Among the guests who attended the Games were: Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni; President and First Lady of Poland, Andrzej Duda and Agata Kornhauser-Duda; Second Lady of the United States, Usha Vance; and European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef. Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 has been a proud moment for the entire movement, especially Europe, which is hosting its sixth World Games. Special Olympics Sargeant Shriver Global Messenger, Gilmour Borg, said, 'It is through making our voices heard that we will shape a more inclusive future. It is through our unity that we grow stronger and face every challenge, hand in hand, together.' David Evangelista, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia President and Managing Director, said, 'The determination, energy and skill shown by the athletes of Special Olympics here at the Games are a culmination of years of training, dedication and perseverance. They are a powerful and timely reminder to the world of the power of inclusion. Here in Turin, the athletes of Special Olympics are quite simply inclusion in motion.' ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS EUROPE EURASIASpecial Olympics in Europe Eurasia encompasses a diverse range of cultures, languages, and customs, traversing 58 countries in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. From Iceland to Italy and Portugal to Uzbekistan, Special Olympics promotes respect, inclusion, and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sports. ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD WINTER GAMES TURIN 2025Every two years, Special Olympics holds its flagship event, the World Games, demonstrating sports excellence, which promotes equality, respect, and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. Transcending the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture, and religion, the world will come together to celebrate inclusion around the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Sestriere, Bardonecchia, and Pragelato, Italy, from 8 March – 15 March 2025. Nearly 1,500 athletes and unified partners, more than 1,000 coaches representing 100 countries, 2000 volunteers, and thousands more spectators will participate in and watch eight exciting winter sports and community events. This is the first time Italy has hosted the World Winter Games. Sports featured are Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Dancesport, Figure Skating, Floorball, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing. For more information on the 2025 Special Olympics World Games, visit and on social on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. Media contact: Aoife O'GradySpecial Olympics Europe Eurasiaaogrady@ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
