Safilo at Special Olympics World Winter Games

Safilo supports the Special Olympics World Winter Games February 7 through 13, 2009, as global supplier and sponsor of the vision screening program Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes®.

The extraordinary event takes place at Boise, Idaho, United States: for one week, the city will host around 3,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from over 100 countries taking part in various disciplines, such as alpine and cross-country skiing, ice-skating, hockey, snowboarding and many more.

Since 2003 Safilo has continued to support this important project, providing vision frames and sunglasses with the special “Opening Eyes” program for all the athletes taking part in the competition promoted by Special Olympics.

As part of Healthy Athletes®, the Special Olympics public health initiative, Opening Eyes is the world’s most comprehensive program aimed at improving the vision of people with intellectual disabilities. For over 10 years, Opening Eyes and the Healthy Athletes program have been providing essential health services for Special Olympics athletes all over the world.

Thanks to Safilo’s commitment, in 2008 over 16,000 Special Olympics athletes received vision frames and sports glasses and over 12,000 received sunglasses for protection against harmful UV rays.

“We are very enthusiastic about supporting such an important project for a long time” stated Samantha Tabacchi, Safilo Corporate Communication and Identity Director. “Together with Special Olympics, over the years we have started many initiatives which, thanks to Safilo’s charity and world network, have made a concrete contribution to improving the vision of thousands of people with intellectual disabilities. Safilo’s commitment to their integration and wellbeing doesn’t stop at the annual contribution of glasses, numerous employees are also involved in voluntary activities at the Special Olympics events throughout the world.”