For its first important event of the year, Mitsubishi Electric has once again chosen to support the young athletes of the Special Olympics, having just finished the 27th edition of the National Winter Games in Bormio.

The event began on 26th January with the usual Opening Ceremony, during which all the delegations of the athletes taking part in the competition were presented.

Two exceptional guests came to support our athletes, Giorgio Rocca, the outstanding slalomist, winner of the World Cup in her discipline and three other world medals, and Deborah Compagnoni, the first athlete in the history of alpine skiing to have a won gold medal in three different Winter Olympic Games.

To give just some numbers, the event involved 200 technicians, 400 family members and approximately 300 volunteers, who, together with the athletes, experienced a truly unique and special sporting event.

For over a week, over 460 athletes from 13 different regions of Italy and from San Marino, with and without intellectual disabilities, competed in alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing and snow shoe racing. Each race was infused with great passion and enthusiasm and thanks to a extraordinary connection with the local area, our special athletes were driven by the ceaseless support of the pupils of the schools of the mountain community.

Our company was delighted to be the sponsor of this such special event, and surely the support of the schools amplified the message we strongly believe in: only by raising awareness among young people can we break the cultural prejudice against those with disabilities and think of building a truly inclusive society.

Thus we continue our journey with the Special Olympics , a journey that has over time given us extremely special moments, allowing us to offer our contribution to a process of raising awareness in order to bring down barriers that children with intellectual disabilities have face every day,  but that they may overcome trought sport.