Special Olympics Europe and Eurasia I have launched a children’s picture book series with support from the European Union that brings to life the journeys of four athletes from across our region who competed in the World Championships. World Winter Games Torino 2025. Designed for children ages 3 to 6, the books celebrate inclusion through sport with colorful, accessible stories.
This unique international series contains individual books by Eros Zanotti (Italy, Cross country skiing), Anka Miron (Romania, Snowshoeing), Stephanie Gott (Great Britain, Snowboarding), and Marcel Schelling (Switzerland, Snowboarding), supported by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme. Each 20-page book, available in both English and the featured athlete’s native language, traces the athlete’s early life, introduction to the sport, preparation for Torino 2025, and personal lessons learned from the Games. In addition to print editions, ideal for schools, libraries and family reading, digital editions are available for free at Specialolympics.org.
“The children in the book see that Special Olympics is not about medals, but about friendship, fun and self-belief,” asserts Eros Zanotti. “This is a message that every child can understand.”
“Reading about my story as a child reminds me of how much support and friendship helped me grow,” says Anka Miron. “I hope young readers will feel inspired to try new things and encourage others, too.”
Stephanie Gott explains: “It’s amazing to see my story being shared in a way that kids can relate to. I hope that kids who read the book realize that even big dreams can start with small steps and that you are never alone when overcoming challenges.”
Marcel Schilling’s coach, Armand, who features heavily in Marcel’s story, adds: “The book shows Marcel’s journey from a kid who loved figure skating to competing in Turin. We want the kids to know that doing your best and enjoying the journey is what matters most.”
“Through these books, Special Olympics aims to show children that inclusion strengthens communities,” he says. David Evangelista, President and CEO of Special Olympics International. “We hope that these stories inspire our younger audiences with determination, compassion and self-confidence. We also hope that they introduce them to the values of sport and teamwork. We are grateful to the European Union for supporting this initiative, which helps create opportunities for children across Europe to learn, grow and celebrate diversity from an early age.”
In addition to the books, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia is also releasing the trailer for the documentary “Unified by Sports: The Special Olympics Journey”. The documentary captures the experiences of the athletes at Turin 2025 in a long-form, emotionally engaging format, providing audiences of all ages with a deeper perspective on the power of sport.
Together, the children’s books and documentaries form part of the broader ‘United in Sport’ campaign by Special Olympics Europe Eurasia to raise awareness and celebrate the achievements of athletes with… Intellectual disabilities All over Europe and the world. It aims to reach families, schools and communities, promote understanding and inspire future generations to embrace inclusion through sport.
The 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games were held in Turin, Italy, from March 8 to 15, with more than 1,500 athletes from nearly 100 countries competing in eight sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floorball, short track speed skating and figure skating.
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for it.
