Nagano, Japan, March 3 - Special Olympics East Asia announced the following highlights from the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games for March 2:

• Families Night: Families of Special Olympics athletes were treated to various displays of traditional Japanese culture during the evening, including traditional dancing and singing and a tea ceremony. They also enjoyed shopping on a special pedestrian street in Nagano.
• 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. Special Olympics China won a thrilling game against Slovakia in the pre-medal rounds of play, defeating the Slovakian Unified Sports Team 1-0. With the win, Special Olympics China advanced to a gold medal game on March 3.
• Medals were awarded in events in all Winter competition sports. Athletes competed in various divisions for every event, with each division competing for a gold, silver and bronze medal. 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 Skiing Advanced Giant Slalom
• Yoo Yong-Woo, an 18-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a gold medal in Alpine Skiing Intermediate Giant Slalom
• Bae Seo-Lim, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in Alpine Skiing Intermediate Giant Slalom
• Chiu Yu Chen, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Cross Country Skiing 7.5K Combined Technique Race
• Chen Wei Chieh, a 22-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a silver medal in the Cross Country Skiing 7.5K Combined Technique Race
• Chu Wan Ru, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Cross Country Skiing 1K Freestyle Race
• Cai Hao, a 14-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Cross Country Skiing 1K Freestyle Race
• Wu Wen Sung, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Cross Country Skiing 1K Freestyle Race
• Ma Xin, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Cross Country Skiing 1K Freestyle Race
• Lo Yi Chu, a 12-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a bronze medal in the Cross Country Skiing 1K Freestyle Race
• Hua Xiaofeng, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Snowshoeing 800M Race
• Zhang Chunkang, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Snowshoeing 800M Race
• Zhao Yong, an 18-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Snowshoeing 800M Race
• Yu Qing, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Snowshoeing 800M Race
• Suen Jian Heng, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a bronze medal in the Snowshoeing 800M Race
• Hsu Pi Chuan, an 18-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Wong Ka Fai, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Macau, earned a gold medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Lee Chin Tsai, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Yang Yu Sheng, a 28-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Huang Shan, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Lei Wai Man, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Macau, earned a silver medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Zhu Jingqiu, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Karen Tam, an 8-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a bronze medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Liu Bozheng, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Chan Pak Kin, a 34-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a bronze medal in the Snowshoeing 100M Race
• Tam Kai Kei, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Macau, earned a silver medal in the Snowshoeing 25M Race
• Kong Hu-Rak, an 18-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 1500M Race
• Kuk Hiu Tung, a 19-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Lee Ug-Jin, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Cheung Lung Fai, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Chen Tianbing, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Geng Yu, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Jung Jong-Hyun, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Shao Shuai, a 13-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Wong Hoi Yui, an 11-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Wong Lee Man, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Yue Jinping, a 20-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Ma Chun Sum, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Hong Sang-Ryoung, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Liu Jia, an 18-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Mok Wai Lung, a 13-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Yuan Ye, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Seo Sung-Ha, a 20-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 500M Race
• Lau Yuk Ling, a 14-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in singles Figure Skating
• Youn So-Hi, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a bronze medal in singles Figure Skating
• Yau Chi Him, a 14-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a bronze medal in singles Figure Skating
• Wang Ya Hui, a 14-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a bronze medal in singles Figure Skating

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