Mitsubishi Electric and Special Olympics Italy are back to the field for European Basketball Week 2016, the exceptional sports event aimed at beating together both stereotyping and prejudice.

The united basketball event, held on Wednesday 23^rd of November at the Assago Mediolanum Forum, opened with a special match between two mixed teams made up of players from the professional EA7 Olimpia Milano and Special Olympics Italy teams.

It was a match between athletes with different abilities, but all with their hands to the ball, the same heart on the field and the same goal of having fun together and of breaking down the walls of taboo and social exclusion.

The exciting event starred 12 Special Olympics basketball players selected by a national coach from different regions of Italy and the players of the EA7 Olimpia Milano team. The Mediolnaum Forum thus witnessed a meaningful event to show the public the power of sharing dreams, motivations, hopes and victories.

Fruit of a well-established partnership between the Milan team and Special Olympics Italy, the game also introduced the official start of the European Basketball Week 2016, the international event at its 13th edition, which, from 26^th November to 4th December, saw the participation of 19,000 players from 35 countries in Europe.

Special Olympics Italy is the international programme of sports training and competitions dedicated to children and adults with intellectual disabilities - of which Mitsubishi has always been a proud advocate - with the goal of promoting sport as an opportunity for uniting people, breaking down barriers and expressing the best of oneself together with others and never against others.