The 12th World Summer Special Olympic Games will be held from October 2 to 12 in Shanghai while the ceremony of lighting the Flame of Hope will be held on the Pnyka in Athens on Friday, 29th of June.

She said Pnyka was the place where Ancient Greek philosophers proposed sports for all, even for those with special characteristics.

That is why the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Greek Olympic Committee decided to choose this place to collect the flame for special Olympic Games instead of the ancient Olympia.

Joanna said the World Special Olympic Games started to lighting the flame in Pnyka in 1999 and the IOC authorized the Special Olympics International to use the Olympic cauldron to light the flame.

She said on this coming Friday, the High Priestess, Maria Kotti, who is also a Greek special Olympics player, will light the Flame of Hope and then deliver the torch to Mr. Zhou Taitong, the vice mayor of Shanghai.

Joanna said China has sent a 75 people delegation to Athens for the lighting ceremony. It is happening for the first time in history which shows Shanghai Municipal government attached great importance to the Special Olympic Games.

She said Shanghai government gave strong support for the Shanghai Special Olympic Games. "I believe the opening ceremony they are preparing will be great and will be the best in the history of Special Olympic Games."

"We appreciate for that and the Mayor of Athens will award Shanghai mayor an honorary medal of Athens," said Joanna.

The Special Olympics Hellas will send a 145-people delegation to Shanghai in October. "I believe, they will receive warm welcome from Shanghai people and have wonderful experience in this beautiful city."