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.

He thanked Shanghai government officials, his co-workers in the SOI, the volunteers and many others.

"I'm very glad that during the Games we had no accidents, no cheating and no violence," he said.

He also said this year's Healthy Athletes Program was the best ever. A 12-year-old athlete from Turkey was able to hear for the first time after treatment in the program.

"At least two athletes who had never heard or talked, can now hear for the first time in their lives," he said.

More than 6,000 athletes accepted health checks, according to the Games steering committee.

Shriver said the "closing ceremony" should be changed to the "re-opening ceremony," because the end of the Games is not a true end, but a new beginning for more intellectually disabled people to join the Special Olympics movement.

Athletes from 164 countries and regions participated in Games competitions and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea delegation attended as observers.

A total of 13,500 medals (4,500 gold, 4,500 sliver and 4,500 bronze) were awarded, apart from more than 8,000 ribbons for athletes ranked fourth to eighth in competition. Participants in the Motor Activities Training Program, which is a demonstration event, all received a Challenge Award.

More than 300,000 spectators attended the events.

"We will review the experience of organizing, volunteer recruiting and other aspects of preparing for the Games, to improve our work arranging the 2010 World Expo," said Zhou Taitong, vice mayor of Shanghai.

Zhou said the investment in the Games was within the committee's budget. And two-thirds of the investment came from donations.

"We'll announce the government investment for the Games by some means after all the donations and expenses are audited," he said.

Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng hands the Special Olympics flag to a representative from Boise, Idaho, in the United States, where he 2009 World Winter Games will be held.

Two “fairies,” one performed by an intellectually challenged girl, descends from the sky during the performance

Spanish tenor Jose Carreras sings with Chinese soprano Liu Lian

American saxophonist Kenneth Gorelick, better known by his stage name Kenny G, plays an adapted Chinese music piece, “Butterfly Lovers”