- The logo for Special Olympics World Winter Games Kazan 2022 was revealed 
during an event at the Kazan Kremlin, where it was projected on the UNESCO 
World Cultural Heritage Site

On Friday 5 February, the Local Organizing Committee for the Special Olympics 
World Winter Games Kazan 2022 unveiled the global event's logo during a 
ceremony at the Kazan Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Photo - 
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1434328/Special_Olympics_International_Kazan_2022.jpg 


The logo carries rich symbolism and was developed in part with a competition 
for designers across Russia. The visual identity is based on winner Artemiy 
Lebedev's concept: Zilant—a mythical dragon creature and symbol of the city of 
Kazan—hugs a stylized tulip native to the Tatarstan region and serves as a 
representation of the Volga River. The depiction of Zilant hugging the logo is 
emblematic of friendship, hospitality, and joy.

At the center of the logo, five figures fly in a circle to represent the global 
Special Olympics movement. Around the flying figures is the Volga, the largest 
river in Europe, on the banks of which Kazan stands. Mythical dragon Zilant 
encircles the logo as he protects and welcomes all participants and guests of 
the Games.

"We believe that such a colorful logo and mascot will catch the eye of any 
person," said Olga Slutsker, President of Special Olympics Russia. "It draws 
attention to the goal of Special Olympics Russia: to develop a society of 
inclusion, justice and equal opportunity for everyone regardless of ability."

"We are very proud that symbols of Kazan became the official mascot of the 
Games," said Vladimir Leonov, Head of the Ministry of Sport in Tatarstan state. 
"Zilant is not like other dragons. He is friendly and casual, and he adds 
brightness, soul and variety to the Special Olympics World Winter Games."

The livestreamed event featured the logo projected onto the Kazan Kremlin 
during a concert with mezzo soprano singer Liza Novikova and Russian-Ukranian 
composer Igor Krutoy. Liza (Elizaveta) Novikova has an intellectual disability 
and a YouTube channel where she has developed a fan base including many fellow 
professional opera singers. She regularly performs concerts in her home city 
Saint Petersburg. Liza performed a composition from Italian opera Ulisse about 
focusing on the journey instead of the destination. Igor Krutoy is a Ukranian 
and Russian music composer, performer, producer, and musical promoter. He 
organizes the New Wave competition for young performers of popular music.

Special Olympics World Winter Games Kazan 2022 open on 22 January 2022, and 
2,000 athletes from over 100 countries with the support of 3,000 volunteers. 
Kazan is regarded as the unofficial sports capital of Russia, and has the 
sports facilities, infrastructure, and volunteer base to hold world-class 
competitions. 

Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners will have the opportunity to 
compete in seven sports at the World Winter Games Kazan 2022: alpine skiing, 
snowboarding, floorball, cross-country skiing, figure skating, short track 
speed skating and snowshoeing. 

About Special Olympics

Founded in 1968 ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3060377-1&h=3761856305&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.specialolympics.org%2Fabout%2Fhistory&a=Founded+in+1968 
), Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people 
with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the 
power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With more 
than six million athletes and Unified Sports partners in over 190 countries and 
territories ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3060377-1&h=3656975880&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.specialolympics.org%2Fprograms&a=190+countries+and+territories%C2%A0 
) and more than one million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 
more than 30 Olympic-type sports ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3060377-1&h=1354344215&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.specialolympics.org%2Four-work%2Fsports%2Fsports-offered&a=30+Olympic-type+sports%C2%A0 
) and over 100,000 games and competitions ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3060377-1&h=1625209086&u=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.specialolympics.org%2Fgovernance%2Freach-report&a=100%2C000+games+and+competitions 
) every year. 

The Special Olympics World Games are held every two years, alternating between 
summer and winter, and are broadcast worldwide by ESPN, the Special Olympic 
Movement's official television and radio broadcasting partner. The previous 
World Winter Games were held in 2017 in Austria.

Learn more: Facebook ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3060377-1&h=2495387429&u=http%3A%2F%2Ffb.com%2Fspecialolympics&a=Facebook 
), YouTube ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3060377-1&h=321225454&u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutube.com%2Fspecialolympicshq&a=YouTube 
), Instagram ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3060377-1&h=2402119632&u=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fspecialolympics&a=Instagram 
), LinkedIn and blog on Medium. More information on www.SpecialOlympics.org.

About Special Olympics Russia

Special Olympics Russia ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3060377-1&h=1351316780&u=http%3A%2F%2Fspecialolympics.ru%2F&a=Special+Olympics+Russia%C2%A0 
) was founded in 1999 and is one of the largest national programs in the global 
Special Olympics movement. In Russia, around 130,000 people with intellectual 
disabilities are involved in physical education and about 5,000 physical 
culture events of the municipal, regional and all Russian levels are held 
annually under the Special Olympics Russia program. Currently there are Special 
Olympics regional offices in 62 regions of Russia. Russian athletes with 
intellectual disabilities take part in international tournaments annually in 
the Special Olympics Russia program with athletes occupying various leadership 
positions.

Special Olympics provides sports training throughout the year in a variety of 
Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 
Training of future Special Olympics participants has already started around 
Russia. Russian athletes with intellectual disabilities can join a team in 
their region on the website: https://specialolympics.ru/programs 

SOURCE  Special Olympics International

CONTACT:  Jason Teitler, Special Olympics, jteitler@specialolympics.org, 
347-739-9483