Where To Watch Special Olympics Opening Ceremony 2025: Date, Time, And Live Streams For World Winter Games

The Special Olympics World Winter Games is one of the most inspiring global sporting events, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of athletes with intellectual disabilities. This year, the Games return to Turin, Italy, a city renowned for its Olympic heritage, having hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics. From March 8 to March 15, over 1,500 athletes and Unified partners from more than 100 countries will compete in eight winter sports, showcasing their talent, determination, and the power of inclusion.

WATCH: 2025 Special Olympics Winter Games Opening Ceremony

The festivities kick off with the highly anticipated Opening Ceremony on March 8, a spectacular event that sets the tone for the week-long celebration of unity and sportsmanship. If you’re wondering how to catch all the action, here’s everything you need to know about the date, time, and live streams for the Special Olympics World Winter Games.

When and Where is the Opening Ceremony?

The Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Turin, Italy. The ceremony will feature dazzling performances, cultural showcases, and the traditional Parade of Athletes, where participants from around the world proudly represent their nations.

WATCH: 2025 Special Olympics Winter Games Opening Ceremony

The exact time of the ceremony will be announced closer to the event, but it is expected to begin in the evening local time (Central European Time, CET). For viewers in the United States, this likely translates to afternoon hours in Eastern Time (ET) and morning hours in Pacific Time (PT).

What channel is Special Olympics Opening Ceremony On?

In the United States, the Opening Ceremony will be televised on ESPN and can be streamed on any streaming service carrying ESPN, as well as ESPN+, Disney+ and ESPN3.

Canada — TSN
Italy — Rai2
Other EU Territories — ZDF

How to Watch the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games Open Ceremony

The Special Olympics World Winter Games will be broadcast and streamed globally, ensuring fans from all corners of the world can join in the celebration. Here’s how you can tune in: ESPN will be the primary broadcaster for the Games.

WATCH: 2025 Winter Games Opening Ceremony Anywhere

The Opening Ceremony, figure skating, and short track speed skating competitions will be available on ESPN+ and ESPN3. Additional coverage, including highlights and updates, will be featured on Special.StedyFlix. A one-hour special recap of the Games will air on ABC on April 6 at 1 PM ET (10 AM PT).

What to Expect at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games

This year’s Games will feature eight sports, along with the Motor Activity Training Program (MATP), a non-competitive initiative designed for athletes with severe disabilities. Here’s a breakdown of the sports and their schedules:

Sports and Host Locations

Alpine Skiing – Sestriere
Cross-Country Skiing – Pragelato
Dance Sport – Bardonecchia
Figure Skating – Turin
Floorball – Turin
Short Track Speed Skating – Turin
Snowboarding – Bardonecchia
Snowshoeing – Sestriere

Competition Schedule

Alpine Skiing: March 11–15 (finals on March 12, 13, 15)
Cross-Country Skiing: March 10–15 (finals March 12–15)
Dance Sport: March 11–15 (finals March 13, 14)
Figure Skating: March 12–14 (finals March 14)
Floorball: March 11–15 (finals March 15)
Short Track Speed Skating: March 11–14 (finals March 13, 14)
Snowboarding: March 11–14 (daily finals)
Snowshoeing: March 11–15 (finals March 13–15)
MATP: March 10–11

Teams Taking Part in Special Olympics Turin 2025

The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 in Turin, Italy, will bring together an incredible array of talent and diversity, with 101 delegations from across the globe participating in this celebration of inclusion and athleticism. Athletes from every corner of the world will compete in eight winter sports, showcasing their skills and determination on the international stage.

Here’s a breakdown of the teams taking part, organized by region:

Africa

SO Ghana
SO Kenya
SO Namibia
SO Senegal
SO South Africa

Asia Pacific

SO Australia
SO Bangladesh
SO Bharat (India)
SO Indonesia
SO Malaysia
SO New Zealand
SO Nippon (Japan)
SO Pakistan
SO Singapore

East Asia

SO China (People’s Republic of China)
SO Chinese Taipei
SO Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)
SO Korea (Republic of Korea)
SO Macau (Macau, China)
SO Mongolia

Europe Eurasia

SO Albania
SO Andorra
SO Armenia
SO Austria
SO Belgium
SO Bosnia and Herzegovina
SO Bulgaria
SO Croatia
SO Cyprus
SO Czech Republic (Czechia)
SO Denmark
SO Estonia
SO Finland
SO France
SO Georgia
SO Germany
SO Gibraltar
SO Great Britain
SO Hellas (Greece)
SO Hungary
SO Iceland
SO Independent Athletes
SO Ireland
SO Isle of Man
SO Israel
SO Italy
SO Kosovo
SO Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan)
SO Latvia
SO Liechtenstein
SO Lithuania
SO Luxembourg
SO Moldova
SO Monaco
SO Montenegro
SO Netherlands
SO North Macedonia
SO Norway
SO Poland
SO Portugal
SO Romania
SO San Marino
SO Serbia
SO Slovakia
SO Slovenia
SO Spain
SO Sweden
SO Switzerland
SO Tajikistan
SO Türkiye
SO Turkmenistan
SO Ukraine
SO Uzbekistan

Latin America

SO Argentina
SO Chile
SO Costa Rica
SO Mexico
SO Uruguay
SO Venezuela

Middle East North Africa

SO Algeria
SO Bahrain
SO Egypt
SO Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran)
SO Iraq
SO Jordan
SO Kuwait
SO Lebanon
SO Libya
SO Mauritania
SO Morocco
SO Oman
SO Palestine
SO Qatar
SO Saudi Arabia
SO Syria
SO Tunisia
SO United Arab Emirates

North America

SO Canada
SO Jamaica
SO Trinidad and Tobago
SO United States of America

Where to watch Special Olympics Opening Ceremony 2025: Date, Time, and Live Streams for World Winter Games