BEIJING, March 28 -- For the first time ever, Special Olympics athletes were invited and included by China Open, a major and professional Tennis organization, to participate in a mainstream sports event in China.

In a move indicating broader acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities, China Open asked Special Olympics China and Special Olympics East Asia to help launch "China Open, Share Tennis with China," a nationwide series of events that encourage people of all ages and abilities to play tennis.

Fan Hong, Vice Secretary-General of Special Olympics China, told a crowd of athletes, celebrities and reporters at an opening ceremony in Beijing that the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities would be especially meaningful for 36 Special Olympics China athletes selected to compete in tennis at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which will be held this October in Shanghai.

Special Olympics China Vice Secretary-General, Fan Hong, gives a speech during the opening ceremony.

"While the mission of this program is to encourage people of all walks of life to play tennis, regardless of their age, ability or gender, Special Olympics' message is inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities," Fan Hong said. "We join in the hope of creating a world where all people treat each other with acceptance and good will."

The opening ceremony at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics was followed by a three-hour practice and competition held at an on-campus tennis club. Also attending the event were representatives from the All-China Sports Federation and the Chinese Tennis Association.

"China Open, Share Tennis with China" was launched as an annual tournament in 2006. It was expanded from four cities to eight in 2007 and will run through October in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Kunming, Wuhan and Hangzhou. At least 6 of the top 10 world-ranking tennis players will be invited to the tournaments.

"China Open, Share Tennis with China" has also kicked off a "Tennis Care Plan" tailored for people with intellectual disabilities. The plan will include volunteer tennis clinics for intellectually disabled people, tennis ball and racket donations, and tennis charity auctions in eight major cities in China in which the annual events will be held. In the eight cities, professional tennis players and coaches will train physical education teachers at special schools. Tennis rackets and balls will also be donated to those schools. The Tennis Care Plan will not only help China Open achieve its mission of encouraging the public to play tennis, but will also give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to train with professional athletes and participate in tennis competitions.