Sport is a way to transcend commonly held ideas
about the abilities of the intellectually disabled and help build their
self-esteem, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on November 10 at the opening
ceremony of a promotional photo exhibition on Shanghai 2007 Special Olympics at
the UN Headquarters in New York.
Among participants in the "Special
Olympics for Social Harmony" forum are (from left): Feng Guoqin, Shanghai
vice mayor; Tang Xiaoquan, president of Executive Board of China Disabled
Persons' Federation; Wang Guangya, Chinese ambassador to the UN; Djibril
Diallo, director of UN New York Office of Sport for Development and Peace;
Liu Zhenmin, deputy permanent representative of China to the UN; and Jiao
Yang, spokeswoman for the Shanghai municipal government. [china.org.cn]
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The secretary-general launched the five-day
exhibition together with several Special Olympics athletes, including Qiao Meili
from Shanghai. Annan said the Special Olympics are a seminal celebration because
they provide a platform for gifted athletes like Qiao to excel, and to show
others as well as themselves their tremendous potential.
"We hope to provide intellectually disabled people an opportunity to exhibit
their courage and enthusiasm, and show their talent and potential," said
Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng while addressing a one-day forum, via a videotaped
speech, which was held at the UN Headquarters the same day the photo exhibition
was opened.
Qiao Meili (right), a Chinese Special
Olympics athlete, delivers a speech at the "Special Olympics for Social
Harmony" forum with two other international athletes.[china.org.cn]
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The theme of the forum, "Special Olympics for Social Harmony," is of
"profound significance to China and the world today," said Chinese Ambassador to
the UN Wang Guangya at the forum's opening ceremony. His comments reflected the
world's multi-polarization and deepening economic globalization and the ongoing
quest of the Chinese government and people toward building a harmonious
society.
"Harmony can pool together the strengths of all sides to accomplish great
tasks in the new century that presents the world with unprecedented
opportunities for development as well as challenges," said Wang, adding that he
is convinced that the upcoming Shanghai Games will further promote the
development of activities relating to the Special Olympics both in China and the
world, and advance the cause of safeguarding the human rights of persons with
disabilities.
The photo exhibition that showcases the development of Special Olympics
movement in China and Shanghai consists of three parts: "Eye on Special
Olympics," "Reasons for Choosing Shanghai" and "I Know I Can."
According to Shanghai Vice Mayor Feng Guoqin, the city is intensifying
preparations for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games by mobilizing
assistance from all walks of life, with the number of volunteers from various
sectors exceeding 80,000.
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