For most people, the chance to meet your country's president would be something to be nervous about. But not for Jia Sirui, a former Special Olympics Global Messenger, who is getting ready to meet with China's President Hu Jintao as part of a delegation from Special Olympics International that includes Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Tim Shriver. As she puts on on her blue Global Messenger blazer, she animatedly about her favorite basketball hero, Yao Ming, and the game he played last night. "I wonder if President Hu is a basketball fan" she asks.

Chinese President Hu Jintao Meets shakes former Special Olympics Global Messenger Jia Sirui during a meeting with Timothy Shriver and Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver

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Jia is no stranger to being around important global leaders and celebrities. Through her participation in Special Olympics, Jia has had the opportunity to meet two Chinese Presidents (Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao), two American Presidents (George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton), as well as, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger was the most exciting," she says with a big smile, "he is one of my idols".

Jia Sirui and the Special Olympics delegation met with President Hu at Beijing's Great Hall of the People -- meeting place of the Communist Party of China's national congress. China is Special Olympics' fastest growing program with nearly 300,000 athletes participating -- a number which should grow to 500,000 by 2005.

President Hu asked Jia if she would be participating in the 2007 World Summer Games "Absolutely!" she replied "And my hope is that more and more children like me can participate along with me". Jia went on to tell President Hu that her favorite sport was basketball, like her hero, Yao Ming. "What is your favorite sport, Mr. President?" she asked. To which President Hu replied, "Swimming".

When Jia and the delegation returned from the meeting, Jia was beaming. She had just talked to her parents who had seen the meeting reported on China's national TV station, CCTV and had told her how proud they were of her.

"So, who's next?" I ask her…"After meeting President Hu, who do you want to meet next?"…without hesitation, Jia smiles…"Yao Ming of course!". So watch this space…you never know who Jia Sirui will be meeting next…