On the occasion of the Special Olympics World Winter Games*, which will be held from 8 to 15 March 2025 in the towns of Turin, Sestriere, Pragelato and Bardonecchia, for the second consecutive year, Mercatò, a brand with about 100 stores in Piedmont and Liguria (mymercato.it), and Coca-Cola, have decided to join the "Adopt a Champion" campaign of Special Olympics Italy. 

Thanks to this initiative, in fact, it will be possible to allow 20 Italian athletes to participate in the international competition involving sportsmen and women from 101 countries around the world, all ready to challenge each other with determination and passion in eight sports disciplines. These include alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, dance sport, floorball, figure skating and speed skating on ice.

A unique opportunity to enhance team spirit, inclusion and talent, demonstrating that sport can break down all barriers and unite people from all backgrounds in the name of solidarity and healthy competition.

For over 25 years in Italy, as Coca-Cola, we have been close to Special Olympics Italy to enhance the extraordinary potential of those with intellectual disabilities, also through corporate volunteering to support the organization in the various operations necessary for the development of the event. 

_{*Special Olympics is an international program of sports training and athletic competitions for people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics has more than 3.7 million athletes in 201 countries – and more than a million volunteers. In Italy there are 19,000 Special Olympics athletes, 2,000 volunteers. Special Olympics Inc is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, as is the Paralympic Committee. The two are separate and distinct organizations. The premises are different, the philosophy that moves the two organizations is different. While the Paralympic Committee operates consistently with the criteria of the Olympic Games with competitive competitions reserved for the best, Special Olympics anywhere in the world and at every level (local, national and international), is an educational program, which proposes and organizes training and events only for people with intellectual disabilities and for all levels of ability. The sporting events are open to all and reward everyone, based on international regulations that are continuously tested and updated. The Special Olympics mission remains as vital today as it was when the Movement was founded in the USA, by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968. Special Olympics is committed to creating a better world, encouraging and promoting the acceptance and inclusion of people, valuing differences. Through the power of sport, by playing sport, people with intellectual disabilities are put in a position to discover new attitudes and abilities, skills and successes. Our athletes discover joy, self-confidence and full satisfaction – on the field of play and in life.}