The Special Olympics torch has travelled from Athens to Japan

A team of 12 skiers and six coaches have travelled to Nagano to take part in the Games which began with Saturday's opening ceremony.

The GB team will all compete in the slalom, giant slalom and downhill events and have high hopes of coming home with some medals.

Athletes will compete against up to 10 competitors of a similar ability.

"Four years ago in Alaska we had a team of 12 athletes and brought back 16 medals so we would hope to do the same again this time around," said head coach Barry Edmondson.

"But my main hope is that our athletes perform to the best of their abilities and enjoy the whole experience of another culture."

Edmondson began working with Special Olympics six years ago through his work with the Abernethy Trust at the Ardgour Outdoor Centre near Fort William.

World Winter Games facts 1,900 athletes from 86 countries are expected to take part The Games will have 8,500 volunteers This is the first time the Games are being held in Asia The first World Games were held in Chicago, Illinois in July 1968

The centre hosted the National Championships and Edmondson admits that he has benefited hugely through working with athletes with a learning disability.

"Before I got involved I didn't know anything about Special Olympics and what they did.

"It has certainly challenged me when it comes to teaching strategies and finding different ways of explaining to the athletes what to them can be some complex things.

"I need to explain things in a way that they can understand, using words and sometimes feelings to convey what I want to say - much of the work is also done through play.

"Some of the team have been skiing for quite a long time and it is also important to keep them motivated and keep them learning," he said.

Taking part in the Special Olympics is more important than winning GB Special Olympics coach Barry Edmondson

The squad for Japan was selected at last year's National Winter Games in Scotland and the panel worked hard over the summer on their local dry ski slopes and on their general fitness.

In October, they got together for a training weekend in Tamworth and were each given a programme of things to work on at their local ski club.

Just before Christmas the team travelled to Austria for some race training on some real snow - working specifically on fine-tuning their work through the start gates.

And Edmondson is hopeful that all of the hard work will be worth it.

Great Britain team Monica Barron, Edward Burdan, David Cottom, Katie Day, Mark Eveleigh, James Howells, Kathryn Lumley, Lissadell Lynch, Francis Muller, Mark Nethercott, Owain Taylor, Trevor Dundon.

"Seeing the athletes putting in the effort to achieve something and the real joy when they win a medal makes it worthwhile and is a great encouragement to everyone.

"It doesn't matter what their skill level is, they will only compete against athletes of a similar standard to give them a fair chance of a medal.

"They have all been supported by their regional clubs but do not receive the same level of funding as Paralympic teams and they need a lot of encouragement," he said.

"For some of them it is an opportunity to be independent away from their home environment and it is a experience they will remember for the rest of their lives."