The 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games

From February 26 to March 6 next year, the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held in Nagano, Japan.

The 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be a flagship event of the Special Olympics movement in Japan and in Asia, and will create a legacy that will provide greater awareness of the Special Olympics movement in the region and more sports opportunities for athletes worldwide than ever before.

1,185 Athletes from 45 delegations from around the world will compete in seven sports* at seven venues in Nagano City and region.

Special Olympics Ireland has participated in both the 1997 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Toronto, Canada, and the 2001 World Winter Games in Alaska and is pleased to announce the following athletes, who have been selected to represent Ireland in Japan in the sport of alpine skiing:-  

  

Name	Region	Level
Lorraine Whelan	Leinster	Intermediate
Warren Tate	Leinster	Intermediate
Cormac Maguire	Leinster	Intermediate
Ryan Hill	Northern Ireland	Intermediate
Fiona Bryson	Leinster	Novice
Art O'Colmain	Leinster	Novice
Liam Weir	Northern Ireland	Novice
Jim Nugent	Northern Ireland	Novice

All of the athletes have been training weekly throughout the winter, at their local ski slopes - Kilternan in Wicklow and Craigavon in Armagh.

 

In February 2004, Team Ireland will begin a year of intensive training in preparation for the World Winter Games.  This will include some snow training prior to competition in Nagano, general fitness training as well as race technique and technical training.

 

Best of luck to Team Ireland!

*alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, speed skating, figure skating and floor hockey.

Click here to visit the official website for the 2005 World Winter Games