Special Olympics Europe Eurasia has launched a European Union-backed illustrated children’s book series that brings to life the journeys of four athletes from our region who took part in the World Winter Games Turin 2025. Designed for children aged 3 to 6 years old, the books celebrate inclusivity through sport using colorful and accessible stories.
This unique international series contains individual books for Eros Zanotti (Italy, cross-country skiing), Anca Mirón (Romania, snowshoeing), Stephanie Gott (Great Britain, figure skating), and Marcel Schilling (Switzerland, snowboarding), supported by the EU through the Erasmus+ programme. Each 20-page book, available in both English and the athlete’s native language, follows the athlete’s early life, introduction to sport, preparation for Turin 2025 and the personal lessons learned during the Games. In addition to print versions, perfect for schools, libraries and family reading, digital versions are available for free on the specialolympics.org website.
Eros Zanotti emphasizes: “In the book, children see that Special Olympics is about more than just medals, it is about friendship, fun and believing in yourself. That is a message that every child can understand.”
Anca Miron says, “Reading about my story as a child reminds me of how much support and friendship helped me grow. I hope young readers feel inspired to try new things and cheer for others, too.”
Stephanie Gott explains, “It’s great to see my story being shared in a way that children can relate to. I hope that children who read the book realize that even big dreams can start with small steps and that when you overcome challenges, you are never alone.”
Marcel Schilling’s coach Armand, who plays an important role in Marcel’s story, adds: “The book shows Marcel’s journey from a child who loved snowboarding to competing in Turin. We want children to know that doing your best and enjoying the journey is the most important thing.”
“With these books, Special Olympics wants to show children that inclusion strengthens communities,” he says David Evangelista, president and CEO of Special Olympics International. “We hope these stories will inspire our youngest audiences with determination, empathy and self-confidence. We also hope it introduces 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, giving audiences of all ages a deeper perspective on the power of sport.
Together, the children’s books and documentary are part of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia’s wider ‘Unified by Sport’ campaign to raise awareness and celebrate the achievements of athletes with intellectual disability throughout Europe and the world. The aim is to reach families, schools and communities, promote understanding and inspire future generations to embrace inclusion through sport.
The 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games took place in Turin, Italy, between March 8 and 15, with more than 1,500 athletes from approximately 100 countries competing in eight sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, dance, figure skating, floorball, short track speed skating and snowboarding.
Financed by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for this.
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