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.
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.
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.
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.
GETTING IT DONE: 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.
FOUNDING MOTHER: 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.
I KNOW I CAN: Qiao Meili
(right), a Chinese Special Olympics athlete, delivers a speech at
the "Special Olympics for Social Harmony" forum with two other
international athletes.
GOOD WILL: Yao Mingbao
(left), deputy secretary-general of Shanghai municipal government,
Florence Nabayinda, board member of the Special Olympics
International and Ugandan Special Olympics athlete, and Zhang Ziyi,
Chinese film actress and image ambassador of the 2007 Special
Olympics World Summer Games, take part in the promotional event of
the Shanghai Games.
SPECIAL EXHIBITION: Posters
of "Special Olympics for Social Harmony" forum and photo exhibition
presented at UN Headquarters in New York City.
(Chen Wen, Beijing Review, reporting from New York,
November 13, 2006)
