Seven Kazakhstan teams will participate in Special Olympics

Seven Kazakhstan teams will take part in the Winter Special Olympic Games that will be held on January 29 – February 5 in the South Korean city of Pyeongchang, 24.kz TV channel reports. Kazakhstan has been taking part in the Special Olympic Games for children and adults with intellectual disabilities since 1991. Kuralay Kozhamkulova, Astana Akimat (city authorities) official said that Kazakhstan athletes won ten gold, four bronze and four silver medals at last year competition. “Special Olympics provide a chance for our schoolchildren to find a niche for themselves. They are very serious about their training sessions,” she said. Special Olympics branches are operating in all the oblasts of Kazakhstan. About 17 thousand Kazakhstan citizens usually take part in training sessions and competitions in 18 summer and winter Olympic sports events. The 2013 Pyeongchang Special Olympics World Winter Games will feature competition events in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowboarding, short track speed skating, snow shoeing and hockey.