2022 Special Olympics World Winter Games

The 2022 Special Olympics World Winter Games (Russian: Всемирные зимние игры Специальной Олимпиады 2022 г.) were a cancelled international multi-sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities planned to be held in Kazan, Russia on January 21–27, 2023, purposed as the early qualification events for all Winter Paralympians to qualify for the 2026 Winter Paralympics, held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy . They would have been the 12th edition of the Special Olympics World Winter Games to be held by the Special Olympics International.

12th Special Olympics World Winter Games
12-е Всемирные зимние игры Специальной Олимпиады
Host cityKazan, Russia
Nations participating97
Athletes participating1,916
Events7 sports
Opening ceremony21 January 2023
Closing ceremony27 January 2023
WebsiteOfficial website
Summer
Winter

The Games were originally planned to be held in Åre and Östersund, Sweden on 2021. However, on December 20, 2019, the Swedish Paralympic Committee announced that they would cancel their plans on conducting the Games there due to insufficient funds to organize the event.[1] On June 29, 2020, it was announced that Kazan, Russia would host the 12th Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2022.[2] The Games would have been held between January 22–28, 2022 but was postponed to January 2023 due to the coronavirus pandemic.[3] Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Special Olympics International decided to cancel the game.[4]

Sports

A total of seven sports at five different venues were planned to be competed on the 2022 Special Olympics:[5]

Venues

Five venues were planned to be used for the 2022 Special Olympics:[5]

  • Burevestnik Stadium
  • Kazan Tennis Academy
  • Skiing and Biathlon Complex
  • Sports Palace
  • Sviyaga Alpine Skiing Complex

References
  1. "Swedish Government Decision Forces Special Olympics to Choose New Location for 2021 World Winter Games". Special Olympics website. December 20, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  2. "Special Olympics Selects Kazan, Russia to Host Landmark World Winter Games in 2022". Special Olympics website. June 29, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  3. "Special Olympics World Winter Games Kazan postponed to January 2023". Special Olympics website. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  4. "Statement on Special Olympics World Winter Games in Kazan". Special Olympics website. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  5. "Sports and Venues". Sokazan2022.com. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
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