Special Olympics: Inclusion Through Sport

Intesa Sanpaolo, Main Partner of the initiative for the three-year period 2025-2027, proudly supported the Special Olympics Winter World Games, celebrating inclusion through sport in Turin with over 1,500 athletes from 102 countries

Born in the United States in the 1960s, the Special Olympics reality is today a global network present in over 200 countries. Officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee, this organization is committed to promoting sport for people with intellectual disabilities, offering them the opportunity to train, compete and share values of friendship, respect and inclusion.

The 2025 edition of the Special Olympics Winter World Games took place from 8 to 15 March in Piedmont, with Turin as the epicenter of the celebrations. Over 1,500 athletes from 102 nations competed in eight disciplines: alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, sports dance, figure skating, floorball, snowboarding, snowshoeing and short track. The event involved various Piedmontese locations: Turin hosted ceremonies and indoor competitions, Sestriere hosted the alpine skiing and snowshoeing trials, Bardonecchia hosted the snowboarding and sports dance trials, while Pragelato welcomed cross-country skiing.

Alongside this impressive event, Intesa Sanpaolo held the role of Main Partner, reaffirming its commitment to sport as a lever for inclusion and social growth. “Being Presenting Partner is a pride and an honor: we actively participate also thanks to the volunteering of the many people in the Group”, declared Gian Maria Gros-Pietro, President of Intesa Sanpaolo. The bank’s contribution also materialized through the Time Bank, a tool that allowed employees to dedicate hours to volunteering during the Games, supporting athletes in various disciplines such as football, golf and badminton.

A symbolic moment of great impact was held on 28 May at Palazzo Madama, with the ceremony of handing over the Torch of Hope to the local authorities, the Compagnia di San Paolo and Intesa Sanpaolo. This gesture was intended to pay homage to Turin, Piedmont and the many citizens and volunteers who contributed to the success of the event.

The Special Olympics journey in Italy was also enriched by the two previous editions of the National Winter Games. In 2023, Bardonecchia welcomed hundreds of athletes, inaugurating the competitions with a relay starting from the Turin headquarters of Intesa Sanpaolo. In 2024, the event extended to Sestriere, Pragelato, Entracque and Borgo San Dalmazzo, involving around 600 athletes, with the international participation of delegations from Austria, Germany, Latvia and Hungary.

The message is clear: sport is a tool for breaking down barriers and building a more equitable and supportive society. And it is precisely in this spirit that the partnership between Special Olympics Italy and Intesa Sanpaolo fits, which will continue until 2027 to promote a more inclusive future.

(Associated Medias) – All rights reserved