The 2017 Special Olympic World Winter Games () officially called 11th Special Olympics World Winter Games were a multi-sports event that was held in Austria from March 14 through March 25, 2017.

Overview

It was announced in 2012 that the host city for the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games would be Graz and Schladming in Styria, Austria.

The opening and closing ceremonies were broadcast in the United States on ABC and ESPN. Most events were played live or re-aired on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNNEWS throughout the games.

The games Reception With 113 nations participating all were invited to the Official Reception in Vienna after the teams arrived. At the Reception teams and nations could meet other athletes, take photos and talk to media from all over the world. This was the Special Olympics World Games first time that this event was held. The Reception took place on March 16, 2017, at the Vienna, Rathaus.

Arrivals

Most athletes arrived at Vienna International Airport on March 14, 2017, and were given Special Austria 2017 necklaces and gear for their stay.

The Austrian government denied the visas for teams from Ghana and Afghanistan, keeping them from competing. The grounds for denial conveyed to the Ghana team were that Austria believed that the athletes would not return to Ghana after the competition. Tim Shriver, chairman of the board of Special Olympics International, said: "On paper, six athletes of more than 2,500 did not attend the 2017 World Games. But for those six, it is a nightmare."

Opening ceremony The opening ceremony was on March 18, 2017. The games were officially opened by Alexander Van der Bellen. Jason Mraz and Grace VanderWaal, with a choir of children from Schladming and Special Olympics global messengers, performed "I Won't Give Up." Helene Fischer performed "Fighter".

Nations participating <onlyinclude> Host nation

Nations participating Athletes Country Male Female Total Events 7 3 10 floorball 12 7 19 floorball 10 0 10 floorball 12 0 12 floor hockey 13 7 20 floorball 20 0 20 floorball, floor hockey 18 6 24 floor hockey, figure skating, speed skating 16 0 16 floor hockey 2 2 4 snowshoeing 9 3 12 alpine skiing, snowboarding 15 13 28 floor hockey Bharat 45 45 90 alpine skiing, floorball, floor hockey, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating, snowshoeing 8 0 8 floorball 2 2 4 snowshoeing 10 3 13 alpine skiing, snowboarding 6 6 12 cross-country skiing, snowshoeing Serendib 6 2 8 floorball 13 1 14 floorball, speed skating 44 32 76 cross-country skiing, floor hockey, figure skating, speed skating snowshoeing 26 14 40 floor hockey, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing 31 16 37 floor hockey, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing Nippon 37 17 54 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating, snowshoeing 46 19 65 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, figure skating, snowboarding 5 5 10 figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing 12 2 14 cross-country skiing, floorball, snowshoeing 4 1 5 alpine skiing 1 0 1 cross-country skiing * 230 90 320 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, floor hockey, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating, snowshoeing, stick shooting 10 0 10 floorball 9 0 9 cross-country skiing 15 11 26 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing 8 8 16 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing 4 4 8 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing 19 10 29 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing 16 6 22 floorball, floor hockey 21 11 32 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, snowboarding 10 4 14 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, figure skating 12 4 16 cross-country skiing, floorball 25 9 34 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, figure skating, snowboarding, snowshoeing 16 13 29 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing 1 0 1 alpine skiing 2 5 7 alpine skiing, figure skating, snowshoeing 48 27 75 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating, snowshoeing, stick shooting 14 1 15 alpine skiing, floorball, snowshoeing Great Britain 9 12 21 alpine skiing, figure skating Hellas 12 2 14 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing 23 10 33 alpine skiing, floor hockey, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing 2 2 4 figure skating Ireland 24 2 26 alpine skiing, floorball 9 3 12 floorball, snowshoeing 12 2 14 floorball, snowshoeing 21 13 34 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing 14 12 26 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowboarding, snowshoeing 1 1 2 alpine skiing 2 1 3 alpine skiing, speed skating 14 6 20 cross-country skiing, floorball, snowshoeing 4 4 8 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing 25 4 29 cross-country skiing, floor hockey, snowshoeing 13 11 24 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, stick shooting 2 0 2 speed skating 17 6 23 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing 4 2 6 alpine skiing, snowshoeing 15 10 25 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, speed skating 23 12 35 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, snowboarding, speed skating 32 14 46 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, speed skating, snowshoeing 9 6 15 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowshoeing 50 29 79 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, floor hockey, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating, snowshoeing 4 0 4 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing 10 9 19 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing 10 6 16 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating 10 8 18 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing 30 22 52 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, snowshoeing 30 11 41 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, floor hockey, figure skating, snowshoeing 38 12 50 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, snowboarding 4 4 8 cross-country skiing, snowshoeing 2 1 3 figure skating, speed skating 16 2 18 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey 9 10 19 alpine skiing, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing 11 5 16 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floorball, snowboarding, snowshoeing 4 4 8 alpine skiing, snowboarding 18 2 20 floor hockey, snowshoeing 12 0 12 floor hockey 2 2 4 snowshoeing 29 4 33 floorball, floor hockey, figure skating, speed skating 0 9 9 floorball 16 6 22 floorball, floor hockey, speed skating, snowshoeing 16 0 16 floor hockey 2 2 4 snowshoeing 18 2 20 floor hockey, snowshoeing 11 0 11 floor hockey 2 2 4 snowshoeing 4 4 8 speed skating, snowshoeing 5 4 9 cross-country skiing, snowshoeing 2 0 2 snowshoeing 16 2 18 floor hockey, snowshoeing 2 2 4 snowshoeing 2 0 2 snowshoeing 5 0 5 speed skating, snowshoeing 6 0 6 speed skating, snowshoeing 4 2 6 cross-country skiing, speed skating, snowshoeing 16 2 18 floor hockey, snowshoeing 20 3 23 floor hockey, speed skating, snowshoeing 68 40 108 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing 18 0 18 floor hockey, speed skating 12 4 16 floor hockey 10 6 16 floor hockey 82 57 139 alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating, snowshoeing 1,555 722 2,277

Events The following events took place at Austria 2017:Sports & Games. Special Olympics official website. Retrieved 2017-03-13.

Calendar OCOpening ceremony●Event competitions1Gold medalsEGExhibition galaCCClosing ceremony

March18Sat19Sun20Mon21Tue22Wed23Thu24Fri25SatGold medals CeremoniesOC CCAlpine skiing | |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● Cross-country skiing | |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● Figure skating | |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● | | Floorball | |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|●

| Floor hockey

|bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● Short track speed skating | |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● | Snowboarding | |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● | Snowshoeing | |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#ffcc00|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● |bgcolor=#3399ff|● March18Sat19Sun20Mon21Tue22Wed23Thu24Fr25SatGold medals

Broadcasting The 2017 World Games was broadcast on the following broadcasters in the following country: – ORF – ESPN Brasil – TSN2, Sportsnet – Sky Television – BBC – ESPN, ESPN2, ABC – ESPN

References

External links