Kazan is the first city in Russia to host the Special Olympic World Winter Games

2 thousand athletes from all over the world will compete at the 2022 Winter Games.

Kazan will host the 2022 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The competition with a key aim of developing a special sports movement, as well as the formation of an inclusion culture.

The Special Olympics International Board of Directors selected Kazan because it is well prepared to host competitions in 7 sports of the World Winter Games: Alpine skiing, snowboarding, floorball, cross-country skiing, figure skating, short track and snowshoeing.

2000 athletes and unified partners (athletes without intellectual disabilities) from 108 countries will compete at the Special Olympics World Winter Games, Tatmedia Agency reports.

The Special Olympics has been active for three decades in Russia and has about 130 000 athletes who take part in competitions across the country.

The Special Olympic World Games take place every two years, alternating between summer and winter. The previous competitions took place in Austria in 2017.