Nanjing, Jiangsu, April 23, 2005 – A Family Support Network (FSN) Seminar was successfully held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China during April 19-23, 2005. The FSN connects Special Olympics families with new families of an individual with intellectual disabilities and provides supportive links and information. The network is based on the premise that the family members of present and future Special Olympics athletes are valuable and have an important role to play in Special Olympics outreach. The FSN creates opportunities for family members to become advocates for the Special Olympics movement; match families to share ideas, issues and common interests; volunteer in their loved one’s athletic training; and encourage new families who can benefit from Special Olympics to join.

This FSN Seminar was led by Ms Anna Chan, the Director of Organizational Development for Special Olympics East Asia. 20 parents attended the seminar, which was also attended by such honorable guests as Mr Zhang Tianlun, Deputy Secretary of Special Olympics China, Mr Hu Nailang, the Director of the Publicity Department of the Jiangsu Disabled Persons’ Federation (DPF), and Mr Xu Tailai, Director of the Basic Education Department of the Jiangsu Education Bureau. Each of these guests spoke during the opening ceremonies of the seminar.

The parents, leaders and coaches who attended the seminar came from many different cities and counties from all around Jiangsu Province. This variety will help to promote Special Olympics and the FSN throughout the province to other athletes and families who are not as familiar with the programs. There were many discussions amongst the parents during the seminar, which helped to make this event a great success! These parents will be instrumental in helping families that are new to Special Olympics.