Beijing, April 22, 2005 – Twenty Special Olympics athletes from Shunyi, Xicheng and Chongwen Special Education Schools in Beijing participated in a soccer skills clinic and game with middle school and high school students from ACAMIS member international schools at Western Academy of Beijing on April 22, 2005.

Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) consists of international schools across China. ACAMIS member schools Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), Beijing BISS International School (BISS), Xiamen International School (XIS), Shanghai Community International Schools (SCIS) and Utahloy International School – Guangzhou Campus (UISG) participated in the soccer tournament held at the WAB campus. The main sponsors for this tournament were Novozymes and Li-Ning Sport.

As part of the three-day tournament, 10 female Special Olympics athletes took part in a clinic led by 10 female students from the ACAMIS schools, learning various soccer skills. At the same time, 10 male Special Olympics athletes played in a Unified Sports™ soccer game with 10 male ACAMIS students, with each of the two teams made up of both Special Olympics athletes and international school students.

Club Football Coach Adam Kirk (in red) helps lead the girls' clinic

Two coaches from China ClubFootball FC, a Beijing joint venture soccer club, donated their time at the Unified Sports™ event. Gary Saunders and Adam Kirk, who is ClubFootball’s head coach, assisted with the girls’ skills clinic. Mr. Saunders and Mr. Kirk both have several years of experience coaching in a variety of countries around the world, including the US, UK and China.

Prior to the start of the Unified Sports™ soccer game, WAB’s director, John McBryde, presented Shunyi Special School with a check for nearly 23,000 RMB from proceeds of the 2005 WABathon fund raiser. For the past two years, WAB has partnered with Shunyi Special School as part of the Special Olympics Adopt-a-School program, which provides the special school with new sports equipment and enhanced training and competition opportunities for these Special Olympics China athletes.

John McBryde (far left) and WAB students present a check to Special Olympics East Asia staff and Shunyi Special School Principal Hou Ya Jun (far right)

“This event provides a great opportunity for international school students from around China to meet and interact with Special Olympics athletes. WAB has been one of our greatest supporters in Beijing and we are very pleased for this introduction to other ACAMIS schools, extending our efforts to teach youth about acceptance and understanding of people with intellectual disabilities,” said George Smith, Managing Director of Special Olympics East Asia. He added, “Special Olympics is also very thankful for the continued support from Coca-Cola, with their donation of refreshments for the tournament.”

Mr. McBryde, who is also the Treasurer for ACAMIS, welcomed the Special Olympics athletes: “A very special welcome to the students and staff from Beijing Special Olympics Squad. We look forward to the Unified Sports™ Soccer match and skills clinic, which are a very special feature of this year’s tournament.Best of luck to all of you and have a great time.”

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. Visit Special Olympics online at www.specialolympics.org and www.specialolympicseastasia.org

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 Adopt-a-School

A program organized by Special Olympics China and supports the efforts of the local special schools to enhance Special Olympics activities in their communities. With a modest amount of funding, the schools are able to provide increased sports training and competition and purchase new equipment and team uniforms. Currently 10 of the 22 special schools have been adopted by corporations or educational institutions.

About ACAMIS

Association of China and Mongolian International Schools (ACAMIS) is a non-profit organization formed to facilitate communication and development between international schools in China and Mongolia, assisting member schools to grow and achieve the very best standards in education. For more information, please visit www.acamis.com

About China ClubFootball FC Limited

Established in August 2001, China ClubFootball FC Limited (Wanguo Qunxing Zuqiu Julebu) is Beijing’s first joint venture football club. ClubFootball is a partnership between Amateur Football Holdings Limited (AFH) and Beijing Fuying Natural Technologies Limited. The CFA, BFA and Beijing Administration of Industry and Commerce license the club to undertake all amateur football related activities. Please visit www.clubfootball.com.cn for more information.

About WAB

The Western Academy of Beijing was established in 1994 as a non-profit English language independent international school serving the expatriate community in Beijing. WAB is an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the International Program to approximately 1,000 students from Nursery to Grade 10. www.wab.edu