The schedule of the Shanghai Special Olympics' closing ceremony was publicized on Sunday, Beijing News reported.

 

More than 10,000 athletes and coaches will attend the ceremony at Jiangwan Sports Center on Thursday evening, at which time some local and international stars will put on a spectacular performance.

 

Jose Carreras, one of the world's top tenors, will sing the song Forever Friends with Liu Lian, a famous local singer nicknamed the "nightingale of Shanghai", in both Italian and Chinese.

 

A miniature hut with the signatures of athletes on its wall will appear at the gala event, along with a beautiful tree upon which participants have tied greeting cards, said Teng Junjie, vice-president of Shanghai Media Group, the ceremony's organizer. 

 

(CRI October 9, 2007)