2013 Special Olympics Winter Games Fan Page

Ganwon Province have been interested in hosting 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games. More than 100 countries have participated in Special Olympics World Games which is an international sporting event on a global scale. In Asian region, only China and Japan have hosted this world games. South Korea submitted bidding book(application)to Special Olympics Inc. and SOI appointed the 2013 World Winter Games Site Selection Committee. From Feb 2, the Site Selection Committee has conducted in-depth visits to the Republic of Korea, including potential Games venues in the Pyeongchang Region of Gangwon Province, to determine the suitability of holding 2013 World Winter Games in Korea. 2013 World Winter Games Site Selection Committee enthusiastically recommends that the Board of Directors select the Pyeongchang Region of Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea, as the site of the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games, noting in particular the excellence of the Pyeongchang sports and accommodat...

Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Special Olympics involves athletes from all ranges of physical abilities who have intellectual disabilities. A very small percentage of Special Olympics athletes also have physical disabilities. The Paralympics involves athletes from six disability groups who compete only on the elite sport level.. As in mainstream sports competitions, athletes who do not meet qualifying standards may not compete and others who are competing may lose in preliminary play. Th e mainstream philosophy of sport is applied, which facilitates competition to determine the “best” athlete or team.

Special Olympics is offering an opportunity for children and adults with intellectual disability to earn year-round sports training. It also often hosts athletic competitions for those to participate as a non-profit international sports organization. Such competitions improve physical ability of ones with intellectual disability and allow them to adjust to the society better. This is action of Special Olympics global movement. Origin of Special Olympics Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968 because of her passionate conviction that persons with intellectual disabilities, young and old, could take part in and benefit from competitive sports. Eunice Kennedy Shriver opened a daily camp for persons with intellectual disabilities in Maryland in 1963. Shriver found that people with disabilities were much more athletic and had greater abilties in physcial activities than most professionals had thought. Shriver had Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. foundation sponsor them to host the fir...