The on-going Shanghai Special Olympics has witnessed the highest sports achievement in the history of the Games, said Chairman of the Special Olympics International (SOI) Timothy Shriver in Shanghai on Monday.

 

Shriver called at Shanghai's International Gymnastics Center on Monday to watch the women's finals of the rhythmic gymnastics. Although the performances of the intellectual disabled athletes were comparatively easy, they have made high achievements for themselves, he said.

 

"As a representative of the SOI, I want to emphasize that the Shanghai Special Olympics has achieved highest excellence in technical facilities and other areas," he said.

 

Expressing his appreciation for China's preparation for the event, Shriver said he was excited to see all the athletes showed their dignities, perseverance in the games and had won attentions and respect through the event.

 

The on-going Special Olympics had drawn over 10, 000 athletes and coaches from 164 countries and regions. The SOI chairman believes it is most important to let them know everyone can win.

 

By participating in the event, the athletes with intellectual disabilities could strengthen confidence, which helps them to better blend with the society, Shriver said.

 

"I marched in with the Chinese delegation on the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics. It is a grand festival with no distinction of nationalities," he said.

 

He hopes the Shanghai Special Olympics would draw more attention of the entire society to care about the people with intellectual disabilities. "We need more doctors, teachers and volunteers to be trained for them, and expect more enterprises to participate in the Special Olympics movement," he said, calling on enduring attention for the vulnerable group.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2007)