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ERIC Number: EJ787041
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Jan
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0046-9157
EISSN: N/A
Special Olympics Brings New Hope and Prospect to China
Wendel, Tim
Exceptional Parent, v38 n1 p12-14, 20, 22-24 26 Jan 2008
More than 7,000 athletes from 165 nations came to Shanghai to participate in the 2007 World Summer Games. The event marked only the second time that Special Olympics World Games have been held in East Asia and the first time for World Summer Games. Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged that the Summer Games would be a key part of his domestic agenda. His goal is to create a "harmonious society" that will reach out to those with intellectual disabilities. Posters for Special Olympics were seen throughout Shanghai, and Hu urged the Chinese people to use the event as a springboard to "build a civilized society." Certainly, recent results in China have been impressive. U.S. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, began the movement in 1962, said the country deserved a lot of credit. At these Games, China had the largest delegation--more than 1,200 athletes. The Closing Ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games was a spectacular event, celebrating the 11 days of sports, friendship, and spirit with Special Olympics athletes, families, coaches, volunteers, and other supporters coming together one last time to officially close the Games. With the theme "Sunshine and Life," the Closing Ceremony offered a farewell party packed with displays by performers with intellectual disabilities and other guests from 164 nations. The sunshine theme ran through the event as it corresponds to the Sunshine Homes set up across Shanghai to care for and offer vocational training to people with intellectual disabilities.
EP Global Communications Inc. 551 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15901. Tel: 877-372-7368; Fax: 814-361-3861; e-mail: EPAR@kable.com; Web site: http://www.eparent.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A