Sport Knows No Borders: National Special Olympics Winter Games Set For Schladming-Dachstein

“Together, limitless” - under this motto will take place from March 14th to 19th The National Special Olympics Winter Games will take place in Styria in March. Around 1,100 athletes with intellectual disabilities compete in ten sports.

• From March 14th to 19th with competitions in alpine skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
• More than 1,000 athletes at the start

The Schladming-Dachstein region will once again become a sporting stage. In Ramsau, the athletes will give their best in snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, while the Alpine skiing competitions are on the agenda at Schladminger Hochwurzen. In addition, a colorful supporting program invites you to take part. The games in Schladming will open on Thursday (March 14th) at 7 p.m. on Wetzlarer Platz.

“We are happy and very proud that we are able to host this great event in our region together with Graz and Seiersberg-Pirka ,” said Mathias Schattleitner, Managing Director of TVB Schladming-Dachstein. “Schladming, with the Hochwurzen as an alpine focus, and Ramsau, with its great experience in the Nordics, are looking forward to the next sporting highlight with great competitions and a very special atmosphere.” All information about the program and tickets are available online at www.steiermark2024.at . The movement was established 31 years ago with the founding of the “Special Olympics Austria” association in Schladming, where the organization's headquarters are still located today. In 1993, the first Special Olympics World Winter Games took place outside of North America in Salzburg and Schladming. In 2016, the National Winter Games were held for the first time in Schladming and Ramsau as well as in Graz, before the Special Olympics Word Winter Games followed again at these locations the following year. The “Freizeit-PSO” association also supports people with special need

The aim of the Special Olympic Austria association is to support people with intellectual disabilities through sport. The National Games, for example, are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter. By the way: Another club in Schladming also works according to the motto “It doesn't work - it doesn't exist”. Both in summer and winter, the members of “Freizeit-PSO” (Leisure Para-Special Outdoor Sports) are committed to enabling people with special needs to have an unforgettable holiday experience in the Schladming-Dachstein region. Find out more at www.freizeit-pso.at .

www.schladming-dachstein.at

The 7th National Special Olympics Winter Games 2024:

• 1,100 athletes
• 10 sports
• 400 trainers
• 600 volunteers

Venues and sports:

• Graz: Figure skating, speed skating, floorball, dance sports, MATP and climbing
• Seiersberg -Pirka : Stock sports
• Schladming: Alpine skiing
• Ramsau am Dachstein: Snowshoe skating and Nordic skiing

All sports competitions and award ceremonies can be attended with free admission (spectator stands/areas).

Opening & closing ceremony in Schladming:

• Opening: Thursday , March 14th, 2024 , 5:00 p.m. Entry & warm - up , 6:00 p.m. 
• Closing ceremony: Monday , March 18th, 2024 , 6:00 p.m. Entrance & warm - up , 7:00 p.m. 

Wetzlarer Platz Schladming, Coburgstraße 44, 8970 Schladming