Special Olympics NZ chief executive Fran Scholey congratulated all athletes selected in the preliminary squad.
“Thank you to our Special Olympics clubs and families for supporting their nominations and a warm welcome to our management and coaching team who will begin preparing our athletes for final selection,” Scholey said.
The preliminary squad will train and prepare for the Special Olympics Snow Camp in Wānaka from August 10-17.
The confirmed New Zealand team are due to be announced that month after final assessments.
Alongside the athletes, Special Olympics New Zealand selected the coaches and management team who will work with head of delegation Dave Cowie to train and prepare the athletes as they get ready to take on the world in Italy.
The athletes will be supported by five coaches and support staff throughout their journey to Torino. They are assistant head of delegation and alpine skiing coach Grant Haskell (North Harbour), alpine skiing coaches Steve Wescott (North Harbour) and Lynette Donaldson (Southland), snowboarding coach John Gilbert (Otago), and team doctor Nicole Lundon (Manawatū).
Because of the cancellation of the previous World Winter Games, this will be the New Zealand snow sports athletes’ first opportunity to showcase their talents on the world stage since the 2017 World Winter Games.
The Special Olympics World Winter Games is the world’s largest inclusive winter sports event, attracting thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete in a variety of winter sports during nine days of exciting and inspiring competition.
Special Olympics World Winter Games NZ preliminary squad
● Cosmo Adams, North Harbour — snowboarding
● Tim Clayton, Hawke’s Bay — alpine skiing
● Marc Enderle, North Harbour — alpine skiing
● Joseph Fitzpatrick-Bryant, Manawatū — alpine skiing
● Nicholas Fyfe, Hutt Valley — alpine skiing
● Jarrod Gilbert, Te Awamutu — snowboarding
● Rebecca Heath, Hutt Valley — alpine skiing
● Mitchell Hartnett-Newlands, Auckland — alpine skiing
● Grant McKenzie, Southland — alpine skiing
● James Oliver, Canterbury — alpine skiing