“I can hardly believe I get to do this!” - Special Olympics Italia Athlete Launches His Own Children’s Book

Эрос Италияның түкпір-түкпірінен 21 спорт түрі бойынша жарысқан интеллектуалдық ерекшеліктері бар және ондай ерекшеліктері жоқ 3 000 спортшының қатарында болды: 41st National Summer Games in Lignano Sabbiadoro.

Addressing a crowd of 200 school children, young people және 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 және discover my talent. I’m here to launch an illustrated book that tells my story: how I overcame the obstacles және improved with the help of my family және friends. I can hardly believe I get to do this!”

Eros’ book – which is aimed at children between three және 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 және families discover a message about courage, perseverance, hope, және importance of support from family және community.

Photo by Simone Castrovillari

Тұсаукесерде аудиторияға IC Casteller (Паэзе, Тревизо) мектебінің итальян тілі мұғалімі Clelia Scalese де сөз сөйледі. Ойындарға оқушыларын ертіп келген Clelia: «Бұл іс-шарада болу өте маңызды. Бұл бізге инклюзия бізден өзгеше адамдармен жай ғана кездесуді емес, команда болуды білдіретінін түсіндірді, өйткені бірге болу жақсырақ», - деді. 

Бұл оқиға, 'Eros' Magical Skis' aims to bring the stories of Special Olympics athletes closer to the public және contribute to building a more empathetic және inclusive society. The launch event on Friday was the first time that the book was presented publicly, және it was enthusiastically received with the gathered crowd of children және young people cheering passionately as Eros addressed his audience. He emphasised how the book offers a pathway to children және 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 және experience something truly special with us, this is your chance! It is time we all see inclusion as a resource және a gift. Look at [people with disabilities] with different eyes және not as if we shouldn’t do anything or be included. Let’s remove that label және start looking at these people as human beings.”

Photo by Simone Castrovillari

‘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 Еуропа және Еуразия Foundation. The other stories follow the journeys of snowshoer, Румыниядан Anca Miron, Ұлыбританиядан мәнерлеп сырғанаушы Stephanie Gott және Швейцариядан сноубордшы Marcel Schilling. Anca launched her book in Bucharest соңғы апталарда үлкен қызығушылықпен таныстырылды. Stephanie және Marcel өз кітаптарын жыл бойы таныстырады. Төрт спортшының бәрі биыл шығатын жаңа деректі фильмде де көрінеді.

‘Eros’ Magical Skis’ is available on www.specialolympics.org in both English және Italian.

The production және printing of the original book was co-funded by the European Union. The views және opinions expressed are solely those of the authors және do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education және Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible үшінm.