OLYMPICS/ Spotlight
Shanghai prepares for special Olympics
(CCTV)
Updated: 2007-08-29 11:46
Organizers of the 2007 Shanghai Special Olympics are carefully planning accommodation and sightseeing activities for the athletes.
In recent weeks, Ms. Gao Jvlan has been awfully busy. As the top reception supervisor for the upcoming Games in the city, she has just finished visiting more than 150 local areas involved in the reception program, including hotels and residents' homes.
This year, the Games' over 10,000 intellectually disabled athletes will be staying in hotels in these areas that are close to venues where their sports events are taking place, and also visit local residents before the competition starts.
After a round of inspections, Gao admits it's a challenge to deliver a satisfactory yet impressive program for the Special Olympics athletes.
Gao says:"So far, more than 10,000 Special Olympics athletes from 163 countries and regions have entered for the Games in October, and we are now preparing accommodations and community activities for them. But the final athlete name list won't be out until mid-September, which leaves us only one week to settle everything."
Gao also says her inspection covers a wide range of issues, such as accommodation, fire and food safety, communication, and program activities. And no detail in the program is too small to neglect, such as removing glass objects from athlete's rooms for their personal safety. The director says challenges still lie ahead, as several factors are adding complications to the preparations.
Gao says, "Athletes are coming from different cultural and religious backgrounds. They are scattered over different local areas. So backup plans to meet different catering and customs must be created. Especially since this October is the Islamic Month of fasting, it will create strict catering requirements for more than 2,000 Muslim athletes and coaches."
Zhou Jie from Shanghai TV, says:"Ms. Gao says she will conduct another round of inspections soon in those communities spread out over 19 local districts and counties. While some may wonder the reason why these intellectually disabled athletes are spread out, officials say it is actually for the Games and the spirits of the cause."
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