The Wal-Mart Foundation announces a $1.1 million grant to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho. The grant will be used to help launch a "Greening the Games" initiative to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the upcoming games.

Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities from more than 100 countries will travel to Idaho to compete in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games February 7-13. Earlier this year, the Wal-Mart Foundation awarded an additional $500,000 grant to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, for a total contribution of $1.6 million in support of the event.

Through the "Greening the Games" initiative, the Wal-Mart Foundation's grant will help bring 'green' buses into the World Winter Games fleet to provide transportation for athletes, coaches and supporters. The green buses will operate on Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, which is an environment-friendly alternative to bio-diesel fuel or natural gas. The grant will also support a recycling program at the games, aimed at recycling 50% of the materials used, and help source local food for the athletes in an effort to reduce transportation emissions.

Since 2007, the Wal-Mart Foundation has awarded more than $3.7 million to support Special Olympics programs in communities across the country. Wal-Mart is recognized as one of the leading employers of people with disabilities in the nation. In 2007, Wal-Mart was recognized for the fourth year in a row as one of the "Top 50 Employers" for providing a positive working environment for people with disabilities according to a poll sponsored by CAREERS and the disABLED magazine. Additionally, in 2008, Wal-Mart was recognized by the National Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities, as an Outstanding Employer for People with Disabilities.

With support from the Wal-Mart Foundation, the World Winter Games developed a website for the "Greening the Games" initiative. The website provides information and tools to help visitors learn how to reduce their impact on the environment. The website features a carbon calculator, a carbon offset program, a blog on green initiatives and a list of eco-friendly ideas that can be applied to everyday life. The Wal-Mart Foundation will also help produce "How-to-Go-Green" kits that will be distributed to athletes, families and visitors at the games. The kits will provide eco-friendly ideas that they can take home and implement in their own communities.

About the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games:

The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held in Idaho, USA, 7-13 February 2009 and up to 3,000 athletes from more than 100 countries are expected to compete. Surpassing the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games in athlete numbers and participating nations, the World Winter Games will be the largest multi-day winter sporting event ever held in Idaho. Competition will take place in seven winter sports -- Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing and Speed Skating. Competition and other activities will take place in communities and venues throughout Idaho including but not limited to Boise, Sun Valley and McCall.