Ireland’s Special Olympics team launched for 2017 World Winter Games

26 Irish athletes will travel to Austria next year for the Special Olympics World Winter Games.

The competitors will take part in two sports - alpine skiing and floorball - at the March event.

Training for Austria 2017 continues at @SkiClubIreland. The floor ball teams have come up to support our Alpine Skiers! pic.twitter.com/IgB1Uw2GUz

— Special Olympics Ireland (@SOIreland) November 20, 2016

They will be supported at the Games by up to 100 Irish volunteers.

“I would like to congratulate all the athletes, I know they will do brilliantly,” said Matt English, Chief Executive of Special Olympics Ireland.

“I would like to thank their families who have been so supportive and all the volunteers that coach them week-in-week-out.

“Particularly the Team Ireland coaches, we have 12 members who will support the team, so Team Ireland is really 38 in total."