We’re pleased to announce that Heather has been officially selected to be an ambassador at the 11th Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria. The games, which will run from March 14th – 25th 2017, will take place in venues in Graz, Schladming and Ramsau, and will feature 2,700 athletes competing from 107 countries.

 

The Special Olympics is the largest international sports movement in the world, offering competitors year-round training in 32 Olympic disciplines in 170 countries, and reaching out to over 4.2 million athletes with disabilities. Its aim is to help create a new world of inclusion and community, where each individual is accepted and involved, irrespective of their abilities or disabilities.

 

Disciplines featured at the games will include figure skating, speed skating, floor hockey, floorball, snowshoeing, Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding and stick shooting.

 

Heather’s past experiences as a world record skier and her struggles as an amputee have put her in an ideal position to help atheletes with disabilities. As well as participating in the award ceremonies, she hopes to use her role as an ambassador to bring attention to the sense of community and inclusion that the Special Olympics promotes.

 

As an ambassador, she will be leading her home country, Team GB (Great Britain), and will accompany their delegation during the Parade of Nations in the opening ceremony in the Planai Stadium. Heather will also be participating in presenting the awards during the course of the games and will be honouring the winning athletes with their medals.

 

Heather will be joining a growing number of celebrities who have worked as ambassadors in the past to help bring recognition to the Special Olympics, and will be working alongside the patron of this year's Special Olypmics, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger, strongman and former governor of California, became involved after having officially accepted patronage of 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in the summer of 2016.

 

The opening ceremony will take place on March 18th in the Planai Stadium in Schladming, with the closing ceremony on March 24th in Liebenau Stadium in Graz.

 

The games will be televised by ESPN on BT Sport in the UK and Ireland, so be sure to catch Heather and the many inspiring athletes.

 

• 21st March: Cross Country

• 22nd March: Giant Slalom (GS)

• 23rd March: Slalom all levels 

• 24th March: Speed Skating

 

For further information, click here