Nagano, Japan, March 1 - Special Olympics East Asia announced the following highlights from the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games for February 27 and 28:

• Former US President Bill Clinton made a surprise visit to the Winter Games on Sunday, February 27. Clinton first stopped off at White Ring, the floor hockey venue before attending the Global Youth Summit. He commended the Global Youth Summit participants and over 300 Japanese youth in attendance for their unwavering commitment and efforts in furthering the Special Olympics movement worldwide.
• Special Olympics China and Special Olympics Chinese Taipei joined 46 other countries and regions in the floor hockey preliminaries on February 27 and 28. Floor hockey is the only team event in Special Olympics winter sports and is part of the Special Olympics Unified Sports initiative, bringing together Special Olympics athletes and individuals without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Medal competitions for floor hockey begin on Wednesday, March 2.
• Athletes from Special Olympics South Korea, Special Olympics Hong Kong, Special Olympics Chinese Taipei and Special Olympics China were among the athletes competing in the divisioning stages of the Men's and Women's 25m, 111m, 222m, 500m, 777m and 1500m speed skating competitions on Sunday and Monday, February 27 and 28.
• A Celebrity Snowshoe Race was held at the Nozawa Onsen Olympic Sports Park on Monday, February 28. Celebrities competed in a friendly competition on the same team on Special Olympics athletes and students from Nozawa elementary school. Volanta Kwansnieska, the first lady of Poland competed together with a Special Olympics China athlete, earning a 2nd place for their heat. Longtime Special Olympics China supporter and friend, Bill Valentino of Bayer China also participated in the celebrity race, joining other celebrities such as Special Olympics CEO and Chairman Timothy Shriver and Special Olympics Board Members Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner, both Olympics gold medal gymnasts. Special Olympics Global Sponsor Coca-Cola also took part, with a representative from Coca-Cola China on a first place winning team. The Coca-Cola China staff member completed the race with "See you in Shanghai 2007" displayed on the back of her jersey, referring to the Special Olympics World Summer Games, to be held in Shanghai in October, 2007. She was cheered on by David Brooks, director of the Olympic Torch Relay for The Coca-Cola Company, and Keri Glenday, Manager of Olympics Planning and Coordination for Coca-Cola China.
• Divisioning for Figure Skating began on Monday, February 28. Special Olympics China, Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, Special Olympics Hong Kong and Special Olympics South Korea all have athletes participating in figure skating competitions.
• The first medals of the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games were awarded on Monday, February 28. Special Olympics East Asia medal winners included:
• Kim, Jun-Woo, a 19-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in Alpine Advanced Downhill Skiing
• Yoo, Yong-Woo, a 18-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a gold medal in Alpine Intermediate Downhill Skiing
• Ge Wei, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in Cross Country 25M Race Classical
• Yang Ya Hsing, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a silver medal in Cross Country 3K Race Freestyle
• Ma Xin, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in Cross Country 3K Race Freestyle
• Wu Wen Sung, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a silver medal in Cross Country 3K Race Freestyle

Special Olympics East Asia has 195 Special Olympics athletes and 14 Unified Sports partners participating in the Games. The East Asia programs in China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea are taking part in Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing and Speed Skating. 2 Special Olympics East Asia athletes, one each from Special Olympics China and Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, will be among the 14 athletes attending the Global Youth Summit.

For more information about the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games, visit www.2005sowwg.com.

About Special Olympics Unified SportsTM

The Special Olympics Unified SportsTM initiative brings together Special Olympics athletes and individuals without intellectual disabilities who are of similar age and ability to train and compete on the same team. The concept of combining athletes with intellectual disabilities and those without (called Partners) was first introduced in the United States in the mid-1980s to provide another level of challenge for higher ability athletes and to promote equality and inclusion. Today, the initiative includes virtually all Special Olympics sports and Unified Sports competitions are an important part of Special Olympics World Games, as well as local, State and National Games.

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for more than 1.4 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Special Olympics International will host their 2007 World Summer Games in Shanghai, China in October 2007.Visit Special Olympics online at www.specialolympics.org and www.specialolympicseastasia.org

Contact:

Karen Fang

Special Olympics East Asia

Public Relations

Mobile (until March 6): ＋81-903-537-1626

Mobile (after March 6): ＋86-1391-002-8297

Email: kfang@specialolympics.org