Feb. 12 – For the first time in the history of the Special Olympics Movement, an Italian athlete will participate in the All Star Game NBA, to be held in Houston from February 15 to 17. Thanks to the collaboration between Special Olympics, the international training program for people with intellectual disabilities, and NBA Cares, a basketball game will take place between Unified Special Olympics athletes and great NBA stars like Ron Harper, Chris Mullin and Dikembe Mutombo. Special Olympics, through a competition, chooses an athlete representing each continent, Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, to participate in this very special game. Massimiliano Priolo has been selected to represent not only Italy, but the whole of Europe, to the most prestigious event of world basketball. Massimiliano is a huge basketball fan and because of this passion has got to be a guest to numerous events. He participated in an exhibition during the Euroleague final in Barcelona in 2011; thanks to LegaDue he had the opportunity to be a judge in the Slam Dunk contest at the Beko All Star Game in Vigevano. Massimiliano says “participating at the All Star Game is a great dream and to participate in the NBA is definitely the culmination of this dream.” Massimiliano thus becomes one of the numerous spokesmen behind the integration message promoted by Special Olympics since 1968.
