Eunice Kennedy Shriver (second from
the right), founder of the Special Olympics International, listens
carefully to the address during the unveiling ceremony of the photo
exhibition.[china.org.cn]
Posters of "Special Olympics for Social Harmony" forum and
photo exhibition presented at UN Headquarters in New York
City.[china.org.cn]
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The Special Olympics
International is an international organization created to help people with
intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence and social skills through
sports training and competition. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, it
is now the only sports organization authorized by the International Olympic
Committee to use the name Olympics in its title. There are 170 million persons
with intellectual disabilities in the world, of whom 2.25 million have
participated in the Special Olympics.
The Special Olympics China was founded in 1985. Shanghai beat 13 other
applicants in 2002 to win the bid for hosting the 12th Special Olympics World
Summer Games, to be held on October 2-11 next year. It is the first time that
such a sports event is to be held in Asia and the second time that it is to be
held outside of the US, the birthplace of the Special Olympics International.
The 11th Special Olympics World Summer Games was held in Dublin, Ireland, in
2003. China will thus become the first developing country to host the event.
"It is especially fitting that our next World Games take place in China,
which now has the largest Special Olympics Program in the world," Bruce
Pasternack, president and CEO of the Special Olympics International, said at the
November 10 forum. He appreciated the efforts of promoting the Special Olympics
in China, a country that has seen a growth of athletes participating in this
sports training and competition from 76,000 to over 550,000 in the past six
years.
Next year, around 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 170 countries and
regions will come to Shanghai to compete in 21 events.
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