Last Major Tune-up for an Ohio athlete before World Games in Turin, Italy
Press Release from Special Olympics Ohio (SOOH): MANSFIELD, OH (January 29, 2025) – For the first time since 2020, Special Olympics Ohio (SOOH) will host its annual Outdoor Winter Games presented by The OSU Wexner Medical Center at Snow Trails (3100 Possum Run Rd) in Mansfield on Monday, February 3, 2025. For the past three years, Special Olympics Ohio has joined Special Olympics Indiana in doing the Outdoor Winter Games at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, IN. This year’s Games will feature 50 athletes and Unified partners from across the state competing in alpine skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
“We’re excited to be back in Ohio for this exciting event,” said Special Olympics Ohio President and CEO, Jessica Stewart. “This makes the sports more accessible and inclusive to our athletes. Our venue partners at Snow Trails have been amazing. We hope people in the area will come out and support our athletes as they compete and go for gold.”
Opening ceremonies will kick off the day of competition with the procession of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Flame of Hope and the reciting of the Special Olympics Athlete Oath. The Games will be declared open and competitions will start shortly after. The Law Enforcement Torch Run's mission is to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics.
One of the athletes competing is Jason Hais of Hamilton County. Hais was named to the 160-member delegation to represent the United States at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, being held March 8-16, 2025. Hais will be competing in Alpine Skiing as a member of Special Olympics USA.
All competitions are open to the public. A full schedule of events can be found below:
- 10 AM to 10:15 AM: Opening Ceremony – Base of Competition Hill
- 10:15 AM to 11 AM: Warm Ups
- 10:15 AM to 10:30 AM: Snowshoeing Finals (Awards to Follow) – Base of Competition Hill
- 10:30 AM to 10:45 AM: Novice Level Prelims and Finals
- 11 AM to 12:30 PM: Intermediate and Advanced - Alpine and Snowboarding Prelims
- 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM: Break
- 1:30 PM: Intermediate and Advanced - Alpine and Snowboarding Finals
For more information on the host venue, visit Snowtrails.com.
About Special Olympics Ohio
Special Olympics Ohio is part of the global inclusion movement using sport, health, education, and leadership programs to empower people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Ohio provides year-round sports training and competition in 19 different sports for 20,000 children and adults, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
