The 2029 World Winter Games for people with disabilities can take place in Switzerland in 2029. This was decided by the Board of Special Olympics International. The award is still subject to financing guarantees from the public sector. From March 6 to 17, 2029, 2,500 athletes from more than 100 countries will get to know all regions of Switzerland, compete in nine sports and thus promote the equal coexistence of all people in our society.
The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2029 were awarded to Switzerland following an official application process subject to a financing guarantee. The Special Olympics World Games bring people together with and without mental disabilities and are the world's largest sporting and humanitarian event.
The World Winter Games last twelve days and will bring together 2,500 athletes from 110 nations for sporting competitions in 9 disciplines. Countless caregivers, family members, fans and volunteers as well as media from all over the world will accompany them.
The legacy of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Switzerland 2029
The World Winter Games are much more than just sport. Special Olympics Switzerland works closely with Swiss sports associations and sports clubs to jointly implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The games offer a profound experience for an inclusive Switzerland, in which everyone has equal access to sport, education, health and all aspects of life. The World Games promote an inclusive society in which all people live together without discrimination.
They give Switzerland a unifying project that will not only include the sporting competition venues in the canton of Grisons, but will also have a strong impact on other regions. The opening ceremony, one of the emotional highlights of the games, will be held at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich. The Host Town program and torch relay will involve all cantons and make possible countless personal encounters between people with and without disabilities. The impact of the Games will live on in the hearts and mindsets of people in the Canton of Graubünden and across the country.
Federal Councillor and Minister of Sports Viola Amherd supported the candidacy on the front line. She is certain of the sustainability of this well-thought-out sports and inclusion project: “I am convinced that the 2029 World Winter Games in Switzerland will make a profound contribution to an inclusive society.”
Bruno Barth, managing director of Special Olympics Switzerland and initiator of this candidacy, is delighted with the early commitment to host the 2029 World Games: “We now have enough time to drive sustainable social and political change and live inclusion in our country over the next few years. This process will help people with disabilities receive respect and appreciation and have equal access to social life.”
The next steps — financing and organization
The contract is still subject to a financing guarantee, which must be provided at the end of September 2022; an official signing ceremony will take place at that time. Special Olympics Switzerland is now beginning an eight-year campaign for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in politics and practice, a time frame that was expressly required in the Swiss application to ensure a lasting legacy.
The budget of the World Games is 38 million francs, i.e. about the same as the Lausanne Youth Olympic Games 2020. 75% of the total costs are to be borne by the federal government, the cantons of Grisons and Zurich, the cities of Chur and Zurich, and the municipalities of Arosa and Vaz/Obervaz (Lenzerheide). The political processes for this have been ongoing since mid-2020 and the decisions will be available to all partners by summer 2022. In the city of Chur, the contribution must be approved in a referendum in spring 2022.
The whole of Switzerland is involved
The sporting part of the event takes place in the canton of Grisons: in Chur the indoor sports of floorball, floor hockey, short track and figure skating; in Arosa alpine skiing and snowboarding and on Lenzerheide cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dance sports. The opening ceremony will take place at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich and the closing ceremony in Chur. A specialty of the Special Olympics World Games is the “Host Town” program, which takes place the week before the opening. The teams from around 110 countries will be spread across all cantons and get to know Switzerland, its climate, its culture and its people.
In this way, people from all regions of the country become part of the games and authentic encounters between people with and without disabilities become possible.
About inclusion
As a sociological term, the concept of inclusion describes a society in which everyone is accepted and can participate in it on an equal and self-determined basis — regardless of gender, age or origin, religious affiliation or education, possible disabilities or other individual characteristics. In an inclusive society, there is no defined normality that every member of this society must strive for or fulfill. The mere fact that there are differences is normal.
These differences are seen as enriching and have no effect on individuals' self-evident right to participate. The task of society is to create structures in all areas of life that enable members of this society to move around barrier-free.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports movement for people with intellectual disabilities and is committed to their appreciation, acceptance and equality. The organization was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy-Shriver and is now represented by more than 6 million athletes in 174 countries. Special Olympics has existed in Switzerland as an independent foundation since 1995. It offers up to 70 competitions a year, hosts National Games, accompanies delegations to World Games and promotes the development of adapted sports and exercise offerings in existing sports clubs and popular sports events.
Special Olympics is committed to an inclusive society in which everyone is welcome.
Christian Gartmann is the communication officer for the 2029 Special Olympics Winter Game candidacy in Switzerland.