11 athletes represent Luxembourg at the Special Olympics in Turin

Luxembourg's Special Olympics delegation gathered at the Kessel Chalet in Neudorf on Sunday to discuss preparations for the Winter Games, which will take place from 8 to 16 March in Turin. Luxembourg will be represented by 11 athletes accompanied by six coaches and a medical team including a doctor and physiotherapist. Roberto Traversini, President of the Luxembourg Special Olympics Federation, emphasised: "All members of our team are volunteers."

Special Olympics is an international sports competition for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities. Around 1,500 athletes from more than 100 countries are expected in Turin. Such events serve not only as a place of sporting victories, but also as a tool for social inclusion and raising awareness of the unique abilities and needs of these people.

Pit Frank, one of the competitors in the cross-country skiing event, spoke excitedly to L'Essentiel about his expectations: "We hope to come back with medals, and I think it's quite possible. But the most important thing is to have fun, to come back healthy and to represent Luxembourg honourably."

Luxembourg athletes will compete in three of the eight disciplines represented: cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and snowshoe racing. The athletes are all amateurs who have dedicated many months to training under the guidance of experienced coaches.

The team will travel to Liechtenstein for final training in conditions as close to the real world as possible to adapt to the challenging slopes and climate of the Alps. This is the final stage of preparation before flying to the Games.