Special Olympics global headquarters announced that Idaho (USA) will be the host site for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, after a decision was made by the International Special Olympics Board of Directors at their meeting on 16 May.

"After review of a comprehensive bid proposal and a visit by the Special Olympics World Games site selection committee, it was proven that Idaho provides excellent sports venues, incredible community support and unprecedented passion for the athletes of our movement," said Jimmy Carnes, Member of the Special Olympics Board of Directors and Chair of the World Games Site Selection Committee.

Similar in size to a Winter Olympics, the 2009 World Winter Games will attract more than 2,000 athletes from 100 nations to compete in seven Olympic-type sports. Other finalist sites were: Reno-Tahoe ( Nevada, USA); Schladming-Graz (Austria) and Garmisch Partenkirchen ( Germany).

Following in the footsteps of Nagano, Japan, the host of the 2005 World Winter Games and joining Shanghai, China, the host of the upcoming 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, this event will be the largest multi-sport event ever held in the state of Idaho.

In addition to world-class competition in Alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding, snowshoe racing and speed skating, the 2009 World Winter Games will also provide a venue for global discussions and action on the impact Special Olympics can make on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Up to 190 million people worldwide have an intellectual disability, making it the largest disability group worldwide. Intellectual disability crosses racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic lines, and can occur in any family.