The wait is finally over: with the opening ceremony staged on the evening of Sunday 5 June at the Olympic Stadium “Grande Torino“, the XXXVII Special Olympics Summer National Games in Turin 2022 officially opened, the largest event sport dedicated to people with intellectual disabilities never realized in Italy with 3000 athletes, 20 sports disciplines, 1300 volunteers, 420 accompanying delegates, 520 technicians and 1400 family members.

The event was characterized by a continuous and incessant succession of emotions, with moments of great music and entertainment alternating with the protocol of the Olympic ceremonial with the conduct of Francesco Gherardi, Raffaele Italiano and the fencing champion Margherita Granbassi: the evening began at 9 pm with the parade of delegations, divided by region, with the 3 thousand athletes absolute protagonists of the races scheduled until Thursday 9 together with their technicians. A message of universal peace then rose from the field, with the guest of honor Arisa singing Imagine by John Lennon accompanied on the piano by Maestro Giuseppe Barbera and followed by an intense vocal version of the Hymn by Mameli. “May I win, but if I don’t succeed I can try with all my strength“: it was the oath of the Special Olympics athlete, who announced to the audience in the stands the entrance of the torch symbol of the diffusion of Olympic values among peoples escorted by an athlete and a partner athlete. The enthusiasm then skyrocketed with the lighting of the tripod and the opening declaration of the Games by the Mayor of the City of Turin Stefano Lo Russo.

From Monday 6, the competitions will continue (with hours 9-18.30) which began on Sunday morning with the “divisioning”, grouping of the athletes into homogeneous heats / groups based on the level of skill to guarantee everyone the opportunity to express themselves to their full potential. #TORniamoINcampO, in addition to being the claim chosen for the Games, from this point of view will also be the watchword for the champions who will compete after two years of pandemic in the 20 disciplines on the program; team sports will take place in unified mode, with the simultaneous presence of players with and without disabilities. In this regard, Turin will be a great protagonist not only as a host city through the provision of the over 20 sports facilities involved, but also and above all as a welcoming and inclusive place.

Below, the details of the tenders and facilities:

• Athletics: Primo Nebiolo Stadium, Viale Luigi Huges 10 Turin
• Badminton: Pala Vela, Via Ventimiglia 145 Turin
• Bocce: Bocciofila Borgo Rossini, C.so Terenzio Mamiani 5 Turin / Bocciodromo Crescenzio Colletta, Lungo Dora P. Colletta 53 Turin
• Bowling: King Center, Via Monginevro 242 Turin
• Football: CUS Torino, Via Milano 63 Grugliasco
• Rowing: Esperia Rowing Club, C.so Moncalieri 2 Turin
• Indoor Rowing: Armida Rowing Club, Viale Virgilio 45 Turin
• Dragon Boat: Esperia Rowing Club, C.so Moncalieri 2 Turin
• Horse riding: Horsebridge Riding Club, Via Supeia Gallino 27 Nole
• Artistic Gymnastics: PalaGymnastics, Via Giacinto Pacchiotti 71 Turin
• Karate: Le Cupole Palace, Via E. Artom, 111 Turin
• Rhythmic Gymnastics: Palasport Moncrivello Eurogymnica, Via Moncrivello 8 Turin
• Golf: Royal Park I Roveri, Rotta Cerbiatta 24 Fiano
• Tennis: Sporting Press Club, C.so G. Agnelli 45 Turin – Gaidano Sports Facility, Via Modigliani 25 Turin
• Basketball: Sisport Sports Center, Via Olivero 40 Turin
• Volleyball: Pala Vela, Via Ventimiglia 145 Turin
• Swimming: Acquatica Turin, C.so Galileo Ferraris 290 Turin / Palazzo del Nuoto, Via Filadelfia 89 Turin
• Table Tennis: CUS Torino, Palazzetto di Grugliasco Via C.L.N. 53 Grugliasco
• Open Water Swimming: Avigliana Lakes, Via Monte Pirchiriano Avigliana
• Flag Rugby: CUS Turin, St. del Barocchio 27 Grugliasco

Read the complete program

The images, with daily updates, are available here

The PalaVela will be the fulcrum of the entire event not only as the venue for badminton and volleyball competitions, but also with the Special Olympics Village, a meeting point for athletes and volunteers: entertainment activities will take place here with live music and animation during the throughout the day, as well as educational workshops and a family area dedicated to relaxation. Inside the structure, the Closing Party of the Games is also scheduled for Wednesday 8 to 21.

Among the proposals of the Village there are:

• “Healthy Athletes – Health Village” Health Program: area dedicated to health and prevention with free screening for all athletes by 150 volunteer doctors and specialists (Monday 9-18, Tuesday 9-18, Wednesday 9-17, Thursday 9-13);
• MATP Motor Activities Training Program: program aimed at athletes with severe / very severe intellectual disabilities who cannot participate in sports competitions, based on the development of basic motor activities (Wednesday 10-12);
• YAP Young Athletes Program: program that includes motor play activities for children with and without intellectual disabilities from 2 to 7 years before being able to enter, from the age of 8, to be part of the Special Olympics world.

THE DECLARATIONS OF THE PROTAGONISTS OF THE CEREMONY

Fabiana Dadone – Minister for Youth Policies: “With your commitment during the pandemic you have raised the concept of resilience to a higher level: you are the living testimony of how thanks to sport and a great social experience it is impossible to leave someone behind. With the Government we supported the candidacy for the Special Olympics 2025 Winter World Games, which will take place right here in Turin, and we will continue to do so: I wish the children to have fun because seeing them happy fills me with joy “.

Alberto Cirio – President of the Piedmont Region: “Seeing you parading on this wonderful field for this top level event was a river of life. Furthermore, starting from Piedmont and Turin has a symbolic meaning of great value: we are proud to have hosted major events such as Eurovision, the Book Fair and the Festival of Economics in recent months, but the Special Olympics Games are certainly the most qualifying event ever because it is able to warm our hearts. All of Piedmont embraces you and sends you a great good luck”.

Stefano Lo Russo – Mayor of Turin: “We welcome the whole Special Olympics movement to Turin: your oath allows us to underline the desire to be together after 2 very hard years, which have kept us at a distance making us enter an unnatural dimension of physical distance. Being here today is a source of great pride and hope because sport brings people closer by making us immerse in reality and in the spirit of sharing”.

Angelo Moratti – President of Special Olympics Italy: “What a thrill to see you again after 2 and a half years: I still remember with great pleasure the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi, with tens of thousands of people from all over the world, the most beautiful event in history by Special Olympics. At a certain point, however, the world closed and the hardest moment came with courageous decisions: from there we invented the Smart Games, giving our athletes the opportunity to play sports directly from their homes by sharing viral videos capable of to be an example for the whole world”.

Alessandra Palazzotti – Director of Special Olympics Italy: “During the pandemic, our athletes guided us and showed us the way, they were our beacon even if we never really stopped: in the last 2 years, in fact, we have trained 60 leading athletes and 40 leading athletes for families, as well as organizing the Smart Games. Today is a whole other story because we are finally back on the field, I invite everyone to underline the abilities, skills and uniqueness of each of our athletes, to whom I want to say to have fun and give the best of themselves because you have shown us that they do not exist. obstacles that you cannot overcome”.

Carlo Cremonte – Director of Special Olympics Italia Team Piemonte: “We have worked hard with all the national and local staff to allow the athletes to compete in the best possible way. There have been many open doors and for this I want to thank the institutions and companies that have supported us: if placed in the best conditions, our children can amaze us and express those talents that make them protagonists even in everyday life. Creating these conditions is a duty of every citizen and we are sure that the athletes will not prove us wrong”.

Federica Borla – Eurogymnica Torino Athlete: “The last 2 years have been very heavy not only for isolation and loneliness but also for the fear of getting close to people, in training and in the gym, or even just hugging them. Today, finally, we are here for the National Summer Games, where we will all return to the field together and I’m sure we will have a lot of fun. From tomorrow I expect you to cheer for all the athletes who will participate in the races”.