Special Olympics athletes head for World Winter Games

Fourteen athletes from Ireland will set off from Dublin Airport today to take their place at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

The games which will run from January 29 to February 5, will take place in PyeongChang in South Korea.

Team Ireland comprises of six athletes who will compete in the Alpine skiing (Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G) competition and a team of eight who will take part in the floorball event.

The 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games feature more than 3,000 Special Olympics athletes and coaches from more than 100 countries who will compete in seven Olympic-type sports: alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, short track speed skating, figure skating, floor hockey and floorball.