POSTED: September 16th 2010
NewsUpdate
PyeongChang 2013: Elected host city for Special Olympics Winter Games
NIKKI WICKS / Sports Features Communications
LONDON, Sept 16: PyeongChang, bidding city for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, has been selected to host the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games, the world sporting event aimed to encourage equality, regardless of disability.
The Korean city was selected by the Special Olympics International board of directors during a ceremony and press conference in Seoul yesterday.
Some 2,500 athletes from 105 countries are likely to participate in the 13-day competition which will take place from Jan 26 to Feb 7 in a number of events including alpine skiing, cross country, snowboarding, and figure skating.
Bart Conner, board member of Special Olympics International said:
“After review of a comprehensive bid proposal and a visit by the Special Olympics World Games site selection committee, it was proven that Korea provides excellent sports venues, incredible community support and unprecedented passion for the athletes of our movement.”
Timothy Shriver, president of the event’s committee added:
“I couldn’t think of any better place other than PyeongChang for the event in 2013”
Vice-president Nadia Comaneci of the committee’s board, the first gymnast to score a perfect score of 10 in the Olympics, signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Korean lawmaker Na Kyung-won of the governing Grand National Party, who serves as president of the organising committee of the Special Olympics. Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California and action film star, was also among the public figures present to celebrate PyeongChang being selected.
Congresswoman Na Kyung-won, in charge of the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games preparational committee stated:
“The Special Olympics World Winter Games will take another step forward and South Korea is eager to make it happen. Unlike 60years ago when South Korea was the beneficiary of support from other nations, today we are extending our help to support others.
"As a nation, we are ready and willing to make a difference in the world today and are committed to hosting a successful 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games and extending to all who attend the warmth and hospitality of our citizens.”
The special Olympic World Games take place every two years, alternating between Summer and Winter editions with the next competition set to take place at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more nearly 3.5 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs.
Keywords · Special Olympics · Timothy Shriver · PyeongChang 2018 · PyeongChang 2013 · Nadia Comaneci · Bart Connor · Arnold Schwarzenegger · Na Kyung Won
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