Italy / DE&I / Sport

From March 8th to 15th, 2025, 1,500 athletes from all over the world will compete in Bardonecchia, Pragelato, Sestriere, and Torino for a week dedicated to inclusion. A team of Mitsubishi Electric volunteers will also be there to support them.

The Special Olympics World Winter Games Torino 2025 officially kicked off on Saturday, March 8th, with an emotional opening ceremony at the Inalpi Arena in Torino. This unique event brought together 100 delegations from around the world.

Over 1,500 athletes will compete until March 15th in eight sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, dance sport, figure skating, speed skating, floorball, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. The competitions will be held in venues across Torino, Bardonecchia, Pragelato, and Sestriere, in a week celebrating sport, inclusion, and community.

Mitsubishi Electric Europe Italian Branch has supported Special Olympics Italia since 2010, sharing the goal of embracing diversity and encouraging respect for every individual and their abilities. Through the power of sport—which unites, inspires, and transforms—we aim to help build more inclusive communities.

Hosting the World Winter Games in Italy marks an important milestone in this journey. For the first time, our employee volunteers will take part in a global event, having previously supported only national initiatives. Once again, our team will work alongside the athletes—assisting them in their daily activities, cheering them on, and helping them perform at their best.

As part of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Torino 2025, we’ve also renewed our support for the Adopt an Athlete® campaign, which helps cover the costs for the 88 Italian athletes competing in this year’s Games.

This year, we are proud to support two incredible athletes: Enrico Battisti, a 30-year-old from Padua competing in alpine skiing, and Roberto Aleina Mecca from Caselle (TO), who will take part in the snowshoeing events. For both of them, participating in the Games is the fulfillment of a dream and the result of a journey that has helped them grow more independent and confident through sport.