‘Buddy Sports Day' comes to Shanghai

SHANGHAI , DEC. 2, 2006 — A large-scale sporting event dubbed “My Heart Beats Everything — Buddy Sports Day ” and sponsored by the China branch of pharmaceutical giant Bayer was held today at the Shanghai Pudong Special School .

Bayer employees joined Special Olympics athletes for an afternoon of games and sports. The main aim of the event was to create long-term friendship between people with intellectual disabilities and others. Participants included representatives from Special Olympics East Asia, the Shanghai Special Olympics Committee, the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games Executive Committee , students and teachers, and reporters.

The event began with a student performance of Chinese martial arts and dance, a program that has claimed prestigious national accolades.

“We've designed buddy stickers particularly for the sports day,” said Mr. Wang, headmaster of the Pudong Special School . “Our students can use them to choose and locate their buddies amongst Bayer China employees and other volunteers for participation in games and sports in pairs. We hope that students will be encouraged to know more about society and how to communicate with people without intellectual disabilities via the way that they've used to find their buddies.

“At the same time, we're excited to hear that Bayer China employees are going to meet with their buddies on a regular basis in the future. They might take our students to go to the cinema and park or even to play with their own kids. This not only gives our students more chances to get to know the world outside the school, but also generates more opportunities for ordinary people to see that children with intellectual disabilities are uniquely skilled and talented.”

Infrequent contact with people without intellectual disabilities and limited involvement in social activities often cause intellectually disabled people to be introverted, unsociable and lacking in confidence. Meanwhile, the lack of contact between the general public and intellectually disabled people has resulted in some misunderstandings.

Bayer's China branch pledged its dedication to giving back to society and said it looked forward to raising public awareness of people with intellectual disabilities. The idea behind the event was to help people with intellectual disabilities gain self-confidence through increased exposure to social activities and job opportunities.

Held one day before the December 3 International Day of Disabled Persons, was just one of Bayer's initiatives within China to encourage employees to join in public benefit activities. Among other planned events is one for December 5, International Volunteer Day, of next year. Bayer will hold similar outreach events at two Beijing special schools.

Shanghai Pudong Special School has made remarkable efforts to commence and develop Special Olympics-related sports and activities. With an atmosphere of “I know I can,” the school has produced a number of committed Special Olympics athletes, leaders and messengers, including Global Messenger Xu Chuang and athlete Qiao Meili, to name just two.

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 competitions and other related programming for 2.25 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. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.

About Bayer

Bayer ( China ) Co., Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Germany 's Bayer AG, one of the world's premier chemical companies that offer pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and health care products, agricultural products, and polymers. It operates in three groups: Health Care, Crop Science, and Material Science. Greater China is Bayer's second largest single market in Asia , posting sales of approximately 1.26 billion euros last year. Their interests in this exciting region have grown steadily over the years, from step-by-step investment to large-scale, world-class facilities. Bayer's investment in China makes it evident that Bayer regards Greater China as one of its most important markets worldwide. The Greater China Group employs around 4,900 people across a wide range of functions.