At the end of May, the National Summer Games Special Olympics will begin in Zug, Switzerland, with, for the first time, such a large team from Graubünden represented in three disciplines. The delegation includes 27 athletes from three branches of the Movimento organization: 11 from Poschiavo, 11 from Samedan, and 5 from Scuol. The main event for the region will be the participation of 22-year-old Arianna Giovanoli, who will compete on a specially designed bicycle made for her.
The custom bicycle project for Arianna Giovanoli is the result of a collaboration between Movimento Poschiavo, local schools, and craftsmen from Tirano. The bicycle, with a bamboo frame and 3D-printed joints, was developed taking into account the health needs of the athlete, who suffers from the rare genetic disorder alpha-mannosidosis. Thanks to this solution, Arianna will be able to independently complete the 500-meter timed course, something that was previously unavailable to her.
Training and preparation
The entire Movimento Poschiavo team has been preparing for the competition since the beginning of the year. The athletes train at facilities in Poschiavo and on special mountain bike routes. According to delegation leader Iris Crameri Murbach, special attention is given not only to physical readiness but also to team spirit. Arianna’s bicycle has already been tested—only the final touches remain before the start.
School engagement and support
The bicycle project named Olimpink brought together the efforts of students and teachers from Poschiavo secondary school, with additional support from a class in Roveredo that organized a fundraiser. The name Olimpink refers to the pink jersey of the Giro d’Italia and the athlete’s favorite color, while the project itself has become a symbol of inclusion and solidarity in the region. Master craftsman Daniele Rinaldi from Tirano took part in the development, coordinated by educators Federica Tognolini and Reto Spadini.
Participation Highlights and Statistics
According to official data from Special Olympics Switzerland, there are 139 athletes from Italian-speaking Switzerland, but representatives of Graubünden note that their region is not always included in these statistics due to administrative specifics. In addition to Movimento, the ARGO association from Chur will also participate in the games, highlighting the diversity and inclusivity of the canton’s sporting community.
Attention to inclusive sports projects is growing not only in Switzerland. For example, Spain’s fitness services market has recently seen notable changes: the merger of the VivaGym and Synergym networks became the sector’s largest deal and drew attention to the accessibility of sports for various population groups.
For Arianna Giovanoli and the entire Movimento Poschiavo team, participation in the National Summer Games is not only a sporting challenge but also an opportunity to show how joint efforts by schools, artisans, and social organizations can change the lives of people with disabilities. Organizers emphasize that such projects set new standards of inclusion and leave a lasting impact on everyone involved.
