'I have seen their happy smiles and lives changed'
China has an estimated 13 million people with intellectual disabilities. Though a latecomer to the Special Olympics, the movement has caught on quickly in China with around 650,000 Special Olympics athletes at present.
"By 2010, the number of Special Olympic athletes in China will increase to about 1.1 million," Tang Xiaoquan, vice-president of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), says. "I have seen their happy smiles and lives changed. I believe the Special Olympics benefits people with intellectual disabilities, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. When you feel happy, you see hope."
Special Olympics China (SOC) was established on June 17, 1985, and joined Special Olympics International on July 6, the same year. With help and donations from individuals, companies, the China Charity Foundation and the Chinese government, many Special Olympics meets have been held throughout the country.
Since 1987, China has also been sending delegations to the summer and winter Special Olympics World Games. In 2002, Shanghai won the bid to host the 2007 Special Olympics Summer World Games and made China the first country in Asia as well as the first developing country to host these Games. It will attract more than 10,000 athletes and coaches from 160 countries and regions to compete in 21 sports.
"The central government has listed the Shanghai Special Olympic Games together with the Beijing Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games as the three top events for two years," the CDPF vice-president says. "This demonstrates the government's strong support for the cause of Chinese disabled persons."
Since July, Tang says, the country has been putting together a social welfare system for disabled persons to help them improve their living conditions. The initiative includes building vocational and recreational centers in local communities. China will send 1,276 athletes from all around the country to participate in all events at the Shanghai Special Olympic Games.
"It's all about participation, not competition. We want athletes from different backgrounds to attend their biggest festival in Shanghai," SOC President Wang Zhijun says.
The Shanghai Games will also provide an opportunity for international athletes and their families to participate in a series of activities such as Host Town Program and Global Family Forum. Host Town Program will have Chinese families in 12 cities host athletes from other countries before the Games to give them a taste of diverse local cultures.
China Daily
(China Daily 09/11/2007 page20)
