The 2017 Special Olympics Are Here!

(ATR) The 2017 edition of the Special Olympics World Winter Games has begun in Austria.

The event is taking place across three cities including Graz, Schladming, and Ramsa under the theme "Heartbeat for the World".

The competition features 2,700 athletes from over 107 countries taking part in nine sports including floor hockey, floorball, stick shooting, figure skating, speedskating, alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and snow shoeing.

The games kick off with theCC Cross Country 5KLM Race Freestyle.

Ahead of the games, the Law Enforcement torch run began in early March as a fundraising activity for the event. Torchbearers made their way to Austria where during the final leg of the run, 80 law enforcement officers from abroad, 10 law enforcement officers from Austria, 10 international Special Olympics athletes as well as numerous police cadets continued to carry the Olympic flame from Bregenz through 50 towns and municipalities in Austria.

The torch will make its final stop at Planai stadium in Schladming for the opening ceremony on March 18 and used to light the Olympic fire - the Flame of Hope - in the cauldron.

The closing ceremony will take place on March 24 at Stadium Graz.

Spectators are given free entry to all Special Olympic events. If you aren't able to catch the games in person, you can refer to the event website for a live news feed and results. Click here for access.

The official broadcaster of the games - ESPN - will begin its coverage of the games on March 18 with a live three-hour special of the opening ceremony.

Written by Courtney Colquitt

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