The Irish diplomatic and business community in Beijing hosted their annual Irish Ball in Beijing on 20 March with more than 600 guests in attendance. The Ball raised funds to benefit several charities and with the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin still fresh in everyone's memory, Special Olympics China was chosen as one these recipients. More than RMB50,000 (over $6,000) will be donated to the Special Olympics Movement in China to to support seed grants to launch Families programs in Dali, Yunnan Province and new the equestrian sports program in Inner Mongolia.

Special Olympics East Asia was also able to publish a full page color advertisement in the Ball's program book. The advertisement was accompanied by a letter authored by the president of the Irish Network Committee (the Ball's organizer) which spoke to the great successes of the 2003 World Games in Ireland and the excitement leading to the 2007 World Games in Shanghai.