Last Updated on August 26, 2024 10:21 am
Two Special Olympics athletes will represent Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) at the Special Olympics World Winter Games, according to SONC President/CEO Keith L. Fishburne.
Ashley Tanner of Mecklenburg County will compete in figure skating and Trenton D’Agostino of Watauga County will compete in snowboarding. The World Winter Games will take place March 8-16, 2025, in Turin, the first capital of Italy.
Also representing SONC, Raleigh Police Department Lt. Ken Klos-Weller will join 82 other law enforcement officers and eight Special Olympics athletes in the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Final Leg for Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, held March 1-11.
Special Olympics USA is comprised of 101 athletes and Unified partners, 32 coaches and 27 delegation members who support team operations. Athletes will compete in the eight sports offered: Alpine skiing, cross country skiing, DanceSport, figure skating, floorball, snowboarding, snowshoeing and speedskating.
The delegation also includes Special Olympics Unified Sports® teams, which join people with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together, as teammates. Special Olympics USA will have representation in Unified floorball.
To learn more about the Special Olympics USA delegation, please visit www.specialolympicsusa.org for a full delegation listing, photos and bios.
Special Olympics USA is the national delegation that represents the United States at the Special Olympics World Games. Delegation members compete in an array of the 30-plus official Special Olympics sports, in individual and team formats.
Every two years, the world transcends the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture and religion to come together for the Special Olympics World Games. Alternating between summer and winter Games, this event is the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement, which promotes inclusion, equality and acceptance around the world.
“Attending World Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these athletes and Unified partners and is the culmination of years of hard work, determination and commitment,” said Brock Banos, Head of Delegation for Special Olympics USA. “In addition to competing on the world stage, they will experience new cultures, creating countless memories and lifelong friendships. I encourage every American to cheer for Special Olympics USA, celebrate the triumphs of the athletes and Unified partners, and take pride in knowing that each member of our delegation will represent our country with excellence and honor. Go, Special Olympics USA!”
The Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 will take place from March 8 -16, 2025, gathering over 1,500 athletes from 103 countries to compete in eight winter sports and showcase the determination of people with intellectual disabilities and the power of inclusion through sport. World Winter Games events will be held in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy.
ESPN’s television networks and digital platforms will bring extensive coverage to sports fans and supporters of the Special Olympics movement around the world. As the official global broadcast partner of Special Olympics, ESPN will deliver live and recorded highlights on its family of TV channels, the ESPN+ streaming service, ESPN3, ESPN.com and the ESPN App.
Bank of America is the Premier Sponsor of Special Olympics USA. Champion is the Official Supplier and Supporter of Special Olympics USA. MTM is Recognition Partner of Special Olympics USA.
To follow Special Olympics USA, visit www.specialolympicsusa.org, join the email list, and follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/specialolympicsusa,Twitter: @specialolyUSA and Instagram: @specialolympicsusa. Hashtag: #Cheer4USA
About Special Olympics North Carolina
Since 1968, the organization has used the transformative power of sports to improve the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Nearly 45,000 athletes (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and Unified partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities) in North Carolina inspire thousands of coaches, sports officials, local program committee members and event organizers involved in Special Olympics statewide. SONC offers year-round training and competition in 20 Olympic-type sports on local and state levels as well as health and wellness initiatives to improve the health status and increase access to community health resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Youth become agents of change through Unified Champion Schools, an education and sports-based program created by Special Olympics to build an inclusive environment among youth with and without intellectual disabilities as well as empower them to become youth leaders and create change in their community. Engage with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Trenton D’Agostino
Ashley Tanner
