Nagano, Japan, March 4 - Special Olympics East Asia announced the following highlights from the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games for March 3:

• Program Leaders Forum: Leaders from Special Olympics programs around the world gathered to discuss how Special Olympics can expand over the next few years. Representatives from each Special Olympics programs attended. The working session resulted in recommendations on what program leaders, from the local level to the regional level, thought were the most important areas for growth in the Special Olympics Movement. The results were presented to the group during dinner, with comments by Special Olympics CEO and Chairman Timothy Shriver and Bobby Shriver who has been instrumental in raising funds for the Movement through a series of Very Special Christmas albums.
• A Media Reception was held to thank and honor all the local and international media that have been reporting on the daily sports and non-sports events at the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games. In addition to several traditional dancing and singing demonstrations, a Japanese film crew was recognized. This film crew includes nine intellectually disabled people aged 13 to 34 who have been involved with Special Olympics activities. The Winter Games will be depicted through the eyes of the intellectually disabled in the documentary they are helping to film. The documentary is named “Believe” and will be aired in Japan later this year.
• The official logo, theme and 2005 public service announcement for the next Special Olympics World Summer Games, to be held in Shanghai in October 2007, were announced. More information on the winning entries and the 2007 Summer Games can be found at www.2007specialolympics.com
• Japanese Crown Princess Masako attended some events including Floor Hockey and Snowboarding, marking her first public appearance in several months.
• 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:
• Special Olympics China’s Unified Sports Floor Hockey team defeated Slovakia 4-1 to win a gold medal. Slovakia placed 2nd with their 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei.
• Special Olympics Chinese Taipei’s Unified Sports Floor Hockey team earned a bronze medal in the final round of competitions.
• Ge Wei, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Cross Country 10M Classical Race
• Wang Ruichong, a 21-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Cross Country 10M Classical Race
• Chu Wan Ru, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Cross Country 500M Freestyle Race
• Lo Yi Chu, a 12-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a silver medal in the Cross Country 500M Freestyle Race
• Zhao Hongting, a 15-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Cross Country 500M Freestyle Race
• Mao Wenchao, an 18-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Cross Country 500M Freestyle Race
• Lee Sung Mei, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Snowshoeing 400M Race
• Li Lin, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Snowshoeing 400M Race
• Chan Pak Kin, a 34-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a gold medal in the Snowshoeing 400M Race
• Huang Shan, a 18-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Snowshoeing 400M Race
• Cao Mengjia, a 13-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Snowshoeing 400M Race
• Liang Xi Bin, a 14-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Snowshoeing 400M Race
• Wu Fu Hsiang, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a silver medal in the Snowshoeing 400M Race
• Pan Honghua, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Snowshoeing 400M Race
• Zhao Yong, an 18-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Snowshoeing 400M Race
• Ho Ya Han, a 13-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Poon Tsz Hin, a 11-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Zhang Liang, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Chen Chun Kuei, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Yu Yo-Han, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Yuan Chia Yan, a 13-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Zhang Yu, a 21-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Wang Yu Kai, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Jia Yuchan, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Jerico Ip, a 13-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• Wang Zheng, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 111M Race
• You Buh-Dul, a 14-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Liu Jia, an 18-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Yue Jinping, a 20-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Lee Ug-Jin, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Lee Young-Suk, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Geng Yu, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Yuan Ye, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Song Ki-Bo, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Tang Pui Shan, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Kuk Hiu Tung, a 19-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Li Wing Yan, a 15-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Ma Chun Sum, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Hong Sang-Ryoung, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Seo Sung-Ha, a 20-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Wong Hoi Yui, an 11-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 777M Race
• Wong Lee Man, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Yuan, Chia Yun, a 13-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Poon Tsz Hin, an 11-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Shao Shuai, a 13-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Wang Zheng, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Tsai Chao Feng, a 13-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Zhang Liang, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Chen Lijuan, a 13-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Lau Yuk Ha, a 13-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Kim Jee-Youn, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Zhang Yu, a 21-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Mok Wai Lung, a 13-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Cheung Lung Fai, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Chen Tianbing, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Yu Yo-Han, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Kim Mi-Yeoung, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Wang Yu Kai, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a bronze medal in the Speed Skating 222M Race
• Chen Yi Chien, a 13-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 25M Straight Race
• Meng Limiao, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 25M Straight Race
• Cui Jingyi, a 20-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 25M Straight Race
• Feng Wenhui, an 18-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 25M Straight Race
• Zhou Qunsheng, a 17-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in the Speed Skating 25M Straight Race
• Sun Siru, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a silver medal in the Speed Skating 25M Straight Race
• Kurtis Jon Siu, a 12-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a gold medal in Figure Skating Singles
• Guo Xin, a 16-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics China, earned a gold medal in Figure Skating Singles
• Gim Sang-Mi, a 15-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a gold medal in Figure Skating Singles
• Kim Eun-Young, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a silver medal in Figure Skating Singles
• Liu Yuk Yi, a 22-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a silver medal in Figure Skating Singles
• Youn So-Hi, a 17-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics South Korea, earned a bronze medal in Figure Skating Singles
• Yau Chi Him, a 14-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a bronze medal in Figure Skating Singles
• Chien Kuang Han, a 13-year-old male athlete from Special Olympics Chinese Taipei, earned a bronze medal in Figure Skating Singles
• Tse Yuk Sim, a 16-year-old female athlete from Special Olympics Hong Kong, earned a bronze medal in Figure Skating Singles

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