Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is one of the most popular winter sports within Special Olympics. It’s the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. The athletes compete one at a time and the athlete with the best time wins the race.
Alpine skiing requires, in addition to a basic combination of endurance and strength, a high capacity of quickness and action/reaction endurance. Through proper training, the athletes improve their physical, psychological and mental efficiency.
Alpine skiing was first established at Special Olympics in 1977. Since then, it has grown in numbers.
In 2011 around 16 000 Special Olympics athletes and 85 Special Olympics Programs hosted and competed in alpine skiing events.
At the Special Olympics Sweden Invitational Games 2020 and the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2021 athletes will compete in the following events (Novice, Intermediate and Advanced levels):
• Super G
• Giant Slalom
• Slalom
Rules
Special Olympics rules follow the International Ski Federation rules for alpine racing except för specific situations. The two minute rule, for instance, allows an athlete that has fallen or gone off course to get the skis back on and continue down the course.
Link: Rules
Link: Fact Sheet
