Special Olympics Winter Games Turin, Italy

In less than 30 days, the Israeli Special Olympics delegation will proudly represent the country at the 2025 Special Olympics Winter Games in Turin, Italy. The games, which will take place between March 8-15, are expected to be the largest international sporting event in 2025.  
The Turin Games will bring together more than 1,500 athletes with intellectual, developmental and communication difficulties, 1,000 coaches, 3,000 family members and more than 500 media personnel and influencers from 102 countries, in a spectacular celebration of inclusivity and achievement.
During the 8-day event, athletes Mia Mazor and Idan Yona will compete in skiing, while Tal Zahavi, Daniel Yaksha and Adi Madmon will compete in snowshoeing.   Special Olympics Israel expects them to achieve impressive results, and to return with medals.

Breaking Down the Barriers to Acceptance
The World Games are the flagship program of the International Special Olympics Movement, which provides athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to develop, enjoy, and excel at a wide variety of sports. In Israel, Special Olympics provides accessible sports training and competitions in various Olympic disciplines to over 3,500 children, youth, and adult athletes  from across the country. Special Olympics also provides holistic support around health and well-being, allowing athletes to develop healthy lifestyle habits and perform to the best of their abilities.

Through the universal language of sports, Mia, Idan, Tal, Daniel, Adi, and all Special Olympics athletes ask us as a society not to let their disability define them, but to let their skills, abilities  and commitment shine.
They are the agents of change, showing those around them how challenges can be made into  opportunities, and how much richer all our lives become when they are inclusive of others.  
Individuals with intellectual disabilities live, on average, 16 years less than their non-disabled peers, despite the non-life-limiting nature of their conditions. Preventable diseases, lack of accessible physical and social spaces, isolation and loneliness mean that they  do not have the opportunities they need to build happy, healthy lives. It does not have to be this way!

It all starts with sports!The Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 will be broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers around the world, displaying to a wide and diverse audience the transformative power of sports in breaking down barriers, changing minds and opening hearts.
Special Olympics Israel aims to use the international exposure and impressive achievements of its athletes at the Turin Games in order to grow the number of athletes engaged in its work here in Israel to 6,000. By raising awareness amongst the next generation of athletes, and providing increased opportunities for them to live full, healthy and meaningful lives, Special Olympics Israel aims to reduce discrimination and increase the participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities in society.  
Special Olympics delegations are costly due to the physical and emotional support required, on top of the training needs and travel needs.  

Meet our athletes:

	Meet Maya Mazor - a 22-year-old from Hof HaCarmel, and the face of women's skiing in Israel! Maya is a world-class ski champion with gold medals and impressive victories in prestigious championships. She is an inspiring female force breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings. Maya follows in the footsteps of Israeli alpine skier Sharon Rotem, who competed in the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics. Through talent, determination, and relentless training, she is paving the way for the next generation of female athletes and representing our country with great honor. Maya will be competing in the Turin Olympics and bringing national pride! Join us on a journey full of female power and Israeli pride. #MayaToTurin #FemalePower #IsraeliPride #Champion
	Tal Zehavi, an Olympic runner and a symbol of success! Tal, 46, from Herzliya, is a veteran athlete in the "Shvil Hakochavim" group and has been training in running for many years. He has participated in several Special Olympics and won gold and silver medals! 🥇🥈 For Tal, sport is a way of life. Through sports, he proves his abilities, gains self-confidence, pride, and joy. Tal is an inspiration to young athletes and a role model for all of us! Special Olympics allows Tal and many other athletes to fulfill their dreams. You too can support Special Olympics and give our athletes the opportunity to succeed! #SpecialOlympics #TalZehavi #WayOfLife #Inspiration #Success
	Adi Madmon, Olympic champion and the pride of Kfar Saba! Adi, 31, has been a Special Olympics athlete for 13 years. She is a resident of Kfar Saba, trains with Hapoel Oren HaSharon, and proudly represented Israel at the 2023 World Games in Berlin! 🇮🇱 Sports bring out the best in Adi - joy, strength, determination, and dedication. She is a symbol of success, a role model, and an inspiration to us all! 💪 Adi proves that with perseverance and hard work, the sky's the limit! #SpecialOlympics #Adi #IsraeliPride #KfarSaba #Inspiration #WomensPower Come support Adi and the Special Olympics athletes!
	Idan Yona - A determined athlete and Israeli pride! Idan, a resident of Meitar, lives and breathes sports! 🏃‍♂️ For him, sports are a way of life, an opportunity to spend time with friends, discover new places, and experience thrills. Idan is not afraid of challenges and is always happy to try new and challenging sports! 🧗‍♂️ He is a determined athlete who always strives forward and never gives up! Now, Idan is proud to represent Israel at the Special Olympics! 🇮🇱 Come cheer him on and support him! #IdanYona #SpecialOlympics #Meitar #IsraeliPride #ChallengeSports
	Daniella Veksha - Olympic champion and the pride of Herzliya! Daniella, 34, is a Special Olympics athlete and a proud resident of Herzliya! 🥇 She competes in snowshoeing, bowling, and floor hockey, and has won numerous medals in competitions in Israel and around the world! 🇮🇱 Daniella recently returned from the World Championships in Berlin with many medals, and she is ready to represent Israel and Herzliya again at the upcoming World Championships! 💪 For Daniella, sport is a way of life, a source of self-confidence and fulfillment. She is a symbol of success and a role model for all of us! #DaniellaVeksha #SpecialOlympics #Herzliya #IsraeliPride #Champion Come support Daniella and the Special Olympics athletes!

Our athletes have the will, together, we can help them find the way!