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Happy New Year!!! |
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A Message from Special Olympics Chairman, Dr. Timothy Shriver It is hard to believe that 2007—a year that all of us in the Special Olympics family prepared for so intensely and anticipated so eagerly—is over. It has been historic, spectacular, exhilarating, memorable, and much more. Our World Games in Shanghai gave us countless examples of the human spirit at work and its awe-inspiring impact. With 7,500 Special Olympics athletes from more than 160 countries, the ceremonies and competitions were magnificent; we even saw our first hole-in-one at a World Games golf competition. However, the Games were extraordinary for many other reasons. Healthy Athletes™ conducted 19,000 health screenings on athletes. Our Global Policy Summit gathered international leaders to focus on intellectual disabilities, and it has already borne fruit: in November, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a Summit speaker, transferred management of the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons to her own office in order to strengthen government programs for people with disabilities. Youth with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) met for a Youth Summit and Youth Forum. And Special Olympics is proud to have been a catalyst in the advances for people with intellectual disabilities in China, now home to our largest program, and we look forward to continuing that progress. In 2007, there is also much to be proud of beyond the Games. Our growth continued, especially in the developing world, with new Programs in such places as East Timor and Vietnam, places where the need for Special Olympics is acute. Healthy Athletes had its most successful year ever providing a total of screenings for some 140,000 athletes at more than 600 events—in addition to all the screenings in Shanghai. Our new communications effort, “Be A fan” is uniting our field and holds the promise of creating far deeper relevance across multiple constituencies. We are taking important strides to promote coaching quality and individual excellence. There is much to celebrate. Yet, still too many people with intellectual disabilities have lives of unspeakable difficulty. Just a few weeks ago, a report by Mental Disability Rights International exposed the horrifying conditions that people with intellectual disabilities endure in Serbian institutions. Sadly, we know that terrible conditions also persist in many other countries. So it is with desire and obligation that we at Special Olympics continue to combat such injustices. Despite the challenges of our internal growth and our capacity, I know that all of us will work tirelessly to bring the joy of sport to even one more athlete and the power of hope to one more family, one more community, one more nation. From beginning to end, Special Olympics is about people. It has been since its inception nearly 40 years ago. Our athletes are at our heart; they always have been and always will be the leaders who inspire and invite a deepening, a change. There are over 2.5 million athletes whose lives have been transformed because of the work you do every day and they in turn have given back freely. Each of us can take pride in our contributions to making that transformation possible. Each of you have helped open up of a world of hope, dignity, and acceptance for millions of people with intellectual disabilities. And in so doing, you have reminded us each of the hope within ourselves. May you and your loved ones have a joyous and wonderful year throughout 2008.
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Macau Celebrates 20 Years with the Special Olympics |
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SO Hong Kong and HK Baptist University Co-Sponsor |
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Shanghai Games Marks a New Beginning for Special Olympics in China |
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SHANGHAI, October 12 - The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games has set an example for developing countries to develop their Special Olympics movements, Special Olympics International Chairman Timothy Shriver said at the closing ceremony on October 11th. More...
 SHANGHAI, October 7 - Pirie Grossman, co-chairman of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, yeterday promised an exciting experience to the athletes who will take part in the event in Boise, Idaho, in the United States. More...
SHANGHAI, October 5 - Twelve families from 12 cities across China were united in Shanghai on October 9 for a "Blending Journey" to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. All the families have one thing in common: they have a family member who is mentally challenged. More... |
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Families Share Experiences of Special World |
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SHANGHAI, October 4 - Family members of Special Olympics athletes and other The Global Family Forum, one of the non-sport events of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, is designed for the families to make friends and recruit supporters.The forum, with the themes "Family fans for life" and "Lighting up their smiles," was produced by the TV show "Family Studio," a regular program talking about stars' families and broadcast by Dragon TV. More... |
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Other Recent News |
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| Regional Talks Tackle Life in Special World Special Olympics Sets Numerous Records in Shanghai Special Olympics Prompts Attitude Change in China Top UN Advisor Gives City Big Tick Law Enforcement Torch Run Marks a Complete Success
Special Olympics East Asia Website
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Learn More About Supporting Special Olympics |
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BEIJING, December 16 - Despite the chill in the morning air, the Yifu Stadium at the Central University for Nationalities (CUN) in Beijing was full of warmth and laughter on Sunday. Around 25 staff members from the Beijing UBS Group and their family members joined hands with 20 Special Olympics athletes from the Chaoyang Anhua Special School and 40 university student volunteers to participate in the “Special Olympics University Day.” 
MACAU, November 12 - An evening marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of Special Olympics Macau was staged on the fourth level the of Macau Sightseeing Tower, which was attended by over 200 people, including those from the Central Government Macau Liaison Office, the Macau Government, the Macau Legislation Council and many others. Also present at the ceremony were Ms. Anna Chan, Managing Director of the Special Olympics East Asia Office, and representatives from Special Olympics Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Korea who offered their congratulations. 
HONG KONG, November 9 - Special Olympics Hong Kong co-sponsored a Unified Sports Seminar in conjunction with the Hong Kong Baptist University, which aimed at promoting Unified Sports and included people with and without intellectual disabilities. Around 300 participants took part in the seminar, including academic professors in the field of special education and adaptive Physical Education, local Special Olympic athletes and students from the university.
HONG KONG, October 24 - Cast Members from Hong Kong Disneyland (HDKL) joined hands to applaud the great achievement of the Hong Kong delegation to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. To show their appreciation for the athletes’ efforts and to celebrate their success, HKDL organized a special Disney-themed Victory Banquet for the delegation. 
MACAU, October 19 - One week after the successful closing of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, a NBA Cares Special Olympics Basketball Clinic was held as part of the 2007 NBA China Games on October 19, 2007 at the Macau Venetian Arena in the principality of Macau, China. This is the first sign of the legacy left by the most successful World Summer Games ever held in the history of Special Olympics. 
