Six picked for Games this winter

SPECIAL Olympics Great Britain, the United Kingdom’s biggest provider of sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities, has announced that six athletes from Special Olympics Surrey will participate and represent their region at its first National Winter Games.

Taking place in Folgaria, in the northern Italian region TrentinoAlto Adige/Südtiro, Special Olympics GB will stage alpine skiing and figure skating events for athletes with intellectual disabilities from January 27 to February 3.

In total, 73 athletes from across England, Scotland and Wales will participate in the Special Olympics GB National Winter Games, including the six local athletes.

All six from Surrey are alpine skiers from SO South East – SO Surrey, and they are Mikey Lines, Bartholome Meredith-Hardy, Stef Nakoneczny, Karen Oosthuizen, Elanor Sinden and Alice Willans.

Colin Dyer, the chief executive of Special Olympics GB, said: “We’re delighted to expand our programme of competitions by staging this first National Winter Games.

“Competing in national and international events has proven to be transformational for many of our athletes, inspiring them to develop new life skills and make changes, which support their independence and career.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Special Olympics Grampian club for investing so much time in planning this event, as the host club, and to Inclusive Skating for being our delivery partner on all figure skating events.

“Special thanks also go to our partners as their funding ensures that our athletes receive a world class sporting experience during this event.”

Special Olympics GB is being supported in its delivery of the National Winter Games by The Ski Company and Alpe Cimbra.

The competition will support the selection process for the subsequent Special Olympics World Winter Games, which take place in Torino, Italy, from March 8 to 16 2025. Here, eight alpine skiers and two figure skaters will represent Team Special Olympics GB for the first time in a Special Olympics World Winter Games since 2017.

Across England, Scotland and Wales, Special Olympics GB provides regular sporting opportunities for more than 6,600 athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Its 95 accredited clubs offer training and competition in 27 sports, which are delivered by a devoted team of 3,800 volunteers.