Skier, Officer Just Days Away from Leaving for Italy

Morehead skier DesaRae Nickell and University of Kentucky Police Department Captain Chuck Adams are just days away from making the trip of a lifetime to Italy for the Special Olympics World Winter Game2 Turin 2025. Nickell will be completing a nearly six-year journey to finally realize her dream of competing at the World Games. Adams will be one of hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the world who will be participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run World Games Final Leg.

Adams, a longtime Special Olympics Kentucky supporter both with the UK Police Department and in his time as Chief of Police in Frankfort, will be the first to head to Italy. He’ll depart on Feb. 22 to meet the Final Leg group. Once in Italy he will help guide the Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” throughout the Piemonte Region of Italy from March 1 until it arrives at the Opening Ceremonies of the Games in Turin on March 8.

Nickell, who recently claimed two gold medals at the Special Olympics Kentucky State Winter Games, will start her journey to Italy on March 5. First she will join the rest of the Special Olympics USA delegation for one night before the entire team goes on to Turin on March 6. After a day to get acclimated, she will also be off to the Opening Ceremonies on March 8. She will start competition on March 9.

Nickell will ski three events at the Games – the slalom, giant slalom and Super G – at Vialattea Ski Resort outside Turin. The specific competition schedule is still being finalized, but events generally consist of a time trial and a race run.

The Special Olympics World Winter Games will take place from March 8 -16, 2025, gathering over 1,500 athletes from 103 countries to compete in eight winter sports and showcase the determination of people with intellectual disabilities and the power of inclusion through sport. World Winter Games events will be held in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy.

ESPN’s television networks and digital platforms will bring extensive coverage to sports fans and supporters of the Special Olympics movement around the world. As the official global broadcast partner of Special Olympics, ESPN will deliver live and recorded highlights on its family of TV channels, the ESPN+ streaming service, ESPN3, ESPN.com and the ESPN App.

To follow Special Olympics USA, visit specialolympicsusa.org, join the email list, and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Hashtag: #Cheer4USA

For more information about the Special Olympics World Winter Games or about Adams and Nickell’s participation, contact Mark Buerger, Director of Communications and External Relations at 502-695-822 or mbuerger@soky.org.