The All-Russian National Special Olympics Floorball and Unified Floorball Competitions were held at the Badminton Center (99 Orenburgsky Trakt, Kazan) on 3-7 May 2021. Up to 150 athletes came to compete in Kazan.
About Event
The All-Russian National Special Olympics Floorball and Unified Floorball Competitions were held as part of test events in the build-up to the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2022: they helped to test Kazan’s readiness to host the upcoming international event. The competition brought together athletes with intellectual disabilities and unified partners no younger than 15 years old. All competitors were divided into divisions depending on their physical aptitude.
Delivery of such events enables more and more people with intellectual disabilities to engage in sports and the Special Olympics movement in general, increasing the number of its supporters.
Among the organizers were Special Olympics Russia, Russia’s Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Sport of the Republic of Tatarstan, Directorate for Sports and Social Projects.
Floorball
Floorball is a universal sport that can be played by people of all ages and ability levels. It only requires a stick, a hockey goal, and a uniform. Similar to other bandy variants, a floorball team consists of five players and a goalkeeper on the court at a time.