Tirana, 21 February – In an emotional and inspiring ceremony held at the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD), the athletes of Special Olympics Albania (SOA) were officially presented ahead of their departure to the Special Olympics World Winter Games, taking place from March 8–15 in Turin, Italy.
For the first time in history, an Albanian delegation will compete at the Special Olympics World Winter Games. This historic milestone has been made possible through the support of Coca-Cola and other donors, marking an important step forward in promoting inclusion and empowering people with intellectual disabilities through sport.
The event brought together the Minister of Education and Sports, representatives of the National Olympic Committee, and sports associations, all united in their message of support for the athletes and the unifying role of sport in society.
During the ceremony, the National Director of Special Olympics Albania, Mr. Roland Hysi, emphasized the importance of this moment:
“This is a significant milestone not only for me, the athletes, and their families, but for the entire country. With your support, the Special Olympics Albania delegation will participate in the World Winter Games for the first time on an international stage. This proves that together, through concrete actions, we can break the barriers that exist for people with intellectual disabilities.”
Since its establishment in 2017, Special Olympics Albania has worked closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports to strengthen institutional support and contribute to the development of the legal framework for inclusive sport. With government backing, SOA is progressing toward formal recognition as a sports association with a special mission under the national Law on Sports.
The President of Coca-Cola Bottling Shqipëria, Mr. Luca Busi, also expressed the company’s support for this important journey:
“Coca-Cola and Special Olympics have shared common values since 1968. As we proudly bring a global brand with strong local roots to Albanian consumers, Coca-Cola Bottling Shqipëria supports the athletes of Special Olympics Albania not only in their journey to Turin, but also in their important work throughout the year.”
In 2023, with Coca-Cola’s support, Special Olympics Albania participated in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin—its first appearance at the Summer Games—where a delegation of 10 athletes competed in swimming, weightlifting, athletics, and basketball.
The Special Olympics World Winter Games are among the largest and most inclusive sporting events in the world. This year, Albania will be represented by six athletes—three women and three men—competing in snowshoeing, alpine skiing, and cross-country skiing.
More than 1,500 athletes from 102 countries, supported by 2,000 volunteers and cheered on by over 100,000 spectators, will take part in the Turin Games. Competitions will be held across eight Olympic-type winter sports, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and short track speed skating—a global celebration of sport, inclusion, and hope.
