Estonian president to visit Special Olympics European ski competition in Otepaa

TALLINN – Estonian President Alar Karis is scheduled to visit on Thursday the Special Olympics European ski competitions, held in Otepaa on Wednesday and Thursday, March 1 and 2.

"The president's visit is symbolic for us. Recognition of those among us who are weaker is a great honor for us and very important for the athletes," said Andres Pool, chairman of the board of Special Olympics Estonia.

The president's brief visit will take place on Thursday after 1 p.m. at Tehvandi ski stadium.

The opening ceremony of the competition will take place at Tehvandi at 11 a.m. on Wednesday in the presence of Minister of Culture Piret Hartman, the patron of Special Olympics in Estonia, Hannes Hermakula, former Lions Governor for the Estonian region Raivo Kokser and Mirek Krogulec, sports director of Special Olympics Europe-Eurasia.

The competition will bring together 132 Special Olympics athletes from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.