Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, attended the official send-off ceremony for the 49-member Indian team set to compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games. This marks the largest-ever Indian contingent for the prestigious event, which will be held in Turin, Italy, from March 7 to 17.
The Indian team comprises 30 athletes, three officials, and 16 support staff, including coaches. The athletes will compete in six disciplines—Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Floorball, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting inclusive sports, the Union Sports Ministry has placed a strong emphasis on supporting specially-abled athletes. As part of this initiative, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) organized 11 national coaching camps across multiple cities, including Chandigarh, Narkanda, New Delhi, Gwalior, Noida, and Gurugram, to prepare the athletes for the global event.
Additionally, SAI provided essential equipment for training and competition, while the Sports Ministry sanctioned funds to cover airfare, boarding, and lodging for the Indian contingent.
Turin 2025 is expected to bring together approximately 1,500 athletes from 100 nations, competing across eight winter sports—Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, DanceSport, Figure Skating, Floorball, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboarding, and Snowshoeing. The event will be supported by around 1,000 coaches and officials, with an estimated 2,000 volunteers ensuring its smooth execution.
In a significant step towards gender equity at the Special Olympics, 45.61% of athletes and Unified Partners—playing partners without intellectual disabilities—are female, a notable rise from 32% at the 2017 World Winter Games in Austria.
(Inputs from IANS)
