Eros was among the 3,000 athletes with and without intellectual disabilities from across Italy competing in 21 sports disciplines at the 41st National Summer Games in Lignano Sabbiadoro.
Addressing a crowd of 200 school children, young people and teachers at the book launch in the hall of Villaggio Bella Italia on day four of the Games, Eros said, “Special Olympics has given me many opportunities to grow and discover my talent. I’m here to launch an illustrated book that tells my story: how I overcame the obstacles and improved with the help of my family and friends. I can hardly believe I get to do this!”
Eros’ book – which is aimed at children between three and six years old – follows his journey from the challenges of childhood to the success he achieved at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2025. Through this story, children and families discover a message about courage, perseverance, hope, and the importance of support from family and community.
Also addressing the audience at the launch was Clelia Scalese, Italian teacher at IC Casteller (Paese, Treviso). Clelia, who accompanied her students to the Games, said, “Being here at this event is truly important. It made us understand that inclusion doesn’t barely mean meeting people who are different from us, it means being a team because sticking together is better.”
The story, 'Eros' Magical Skis' aims to bring the stories of Special Olympics athletes closer to the public and contribute to building a more empathetic and inclusive society. The launch event on Friday was the first time that the book was presented publicly, and it was enthusiastically received with the gathered crowd of children and young people cheering passionately as Eros addressed his audience. He emphasised how the book offers a pathway to children and young people for overcoming their difficulties.
Eros concluded with a heartfelt message to all students present, “The doors of Special Olympics are always open. If you want to be a part of it and experience something truly special with us, this is your chance! It is time we all see inclusion as a resource and a gift. Look at [people with disabilities] with different eyes and not as if we shouldn’t do anything or be included. Let’s remove that label and start looking at these people as human beings.”
‘Eros’ Magical Skis’ is accompanied by three other books in this dedicated children’ series produced as a legacy of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 by SO Europe Eurasia Foundation. The other stories follow the journeys of snowshoer, Anca Miron from Romania, figure skater Stephanie Gott from Great Britain and snowboarder Marcel Schilling from Switzerland. Anca launched her book in Bucharest in recent weeks to much fanfare. Stephanie and Marcel are set to launch theirs throughout the year. All four athletes also feature in a new documentary which will launch this year.
‘Eros’ Magical Skis’ is available on www.specialolympics.org in both English and Italian.
The production and printing of the original book was co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
