CDPF President Tang Xiaoquan and SOEA Managing Director Anna Chan cut 40th Anniversary Cake with SO athletes and volunteers

On July 19, 2008, one day before the 40th anniversary of Special Olympics and the second Chinese National Special Olympics Day, and less than one month before the coming Beijing Olympic Games, over 100 SO athletes, their families, coaches, teachers and volunteers gathered at the Sports Center of China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) in Daxing District of Beijing to celebrate the achievement of Special Olympics movement and its athletes in China. Madam Tang Xiaoquan, President of CDPF, Mr. Wang Zhijun, Chairman of SO China, and Ms. Anna Chan Managing Director of SO East Asia also attended the day's activities.

Zhao Zengzeng, Zhang Kun and Jia Sirui, SO athlete torch bearers for the coming Beijing Olympic Games

In the basketball court of the sports center that was decorated with SO"Be a fan" banners, Zhao Zengzeng and Zhang Kun, two SO athletes having been selected as Beijing Olympics Torch Bearers did a mini-torch relay. Ms. Jia Sirui, 2000-2002 Special Olympics Global Messenger and Paralympics Games torch bearer gave a speech representing all SO athletes in Beijing. At the end of the ceremony, Ms Anna Chan, Managing Director of SOEA invited all leaders, athlete representatives, family representatives and volunteer representatives to cut the cake to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Special Olympics, leading the whole venue to be filled with laughter and excitement.

After the opening ceremony, local SO athletes took part in a Special Olympics football competition and softball competition, while there was also a Young Athletes demonstration. About 20 summer interns of UBS, one of the long-term sponsors for Special Olympics East Asia, acted as volunteers in the day's volunteers. They joined in the SO athletes in the training and competitions.

The Special Olympics Day was well celebrated not only in Beijing but over 27 Chinese provinces out of 31. This year, all East Asia Programs joined in to mark the achievement made by Special Olympics movement and the athletes across the region.

SO athletes and volunteers compete together

Group photo

Young Athletes demonstration

For 40 years Special Olympics has been changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through sports, along with building more inclusive and engaged communities around the world. In the true pioneer spirit that led Mrs. Shriver to use the simple power of sports to transform the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their entire communities, Special Olympics is not using the milestone as a point of reflection, but rather an opportunity to recommit to its' mission and continue to strive to be a leading movement in improving the lives of the largest disability population in the world.

 "While we have made great strides over the last several years we still need to educate millions of people about the power and relevance of our movement," said Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver. "After 40 years many people still think Special Olympics is a nice event that happens once a year. We're using this important anniversary to tell everyone that Special Olympics happens everyday around the world. And we are inviting each one of them to become involved in Special Olympics and to help create a world of acceptance and dignity for all humanity."

Since that July afternoon of 1968 in Chicago's Soldier Field the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to 2.8 million athletes in over 180 countries in all regions of the world with more than 29,000 competitions year round. Special Olympics now takes place everyday in places like China and from regions like the Middle East to the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood's backyard. Special Olympics has also added initiatives and expanded advocacy work – all centered on the catalytic power of sport – that include health, family support and education.

Most importantly Special Olympics is using the 40th Anniversary to celebrate its athletes.

"Our athletes have given the world far more than the world has given back. Every day they face persistent misunderstanding and discrimination that makes life somewhere between tough and unimaginable for so many. Yet they wake each day with a smile, ready for the next challenge," said Special Olympics President and Chief Operating Officer Brady Lum. "Our challenge is to confront this bias and to draw on the strength and courage of our athletes to constantly renew our commitment to defeat it in the generation ahead."