On Aug. 21, 2008, 3 SOEA athletes, Ms. Yang Yan, Mr. Wang An Mr.Gu Yeming and 1 unified partner of Gu Yeming, Mr. Gao Mingfei are invited to a “Spirit of Sport” press celebration, organised by AIPS, the international journalists’ association, and supported by Laureus, one of the sponsor of SOEA.
The event is to celebrate the XXIXth Summer Olympics currently taking place in Beijing. The honorable guests including Track and field legends Don Quarrie, Cathy Freeman, Michael Johnson, Edwin Moses, Nawal El Moutawakel and Daley Thompson attended the event.

SOEA athletes and Cathy Freeman

SOEA athletes and Edwin Moses

Ms. Anna Chan and Mr. Guy Sanan with the athletes

SOEA Managing Director, Ms. Anna Chan and Chief Executive Officer of Laureus, Mr. Guy Sanan Also attended the event.

Laureus has sponsored SOEA on unified sports for years. The activities funded by Laureus grants include unified basketball, badminton, bocce, golf, softball, football, volleyball, bowling, snowboarding, skiing and kayaking. The beneficiaries have accumulated to 108,265 people, among them there are 67,533 SO athletes.

Special Olympics Unified Sports® initiative brings together Special Olympics athletes and individuals without intellectual disabilities who are of similar age and ability to train and compete on the same team, promoting equality and inclusion. It is a platform for the ID people to get into the society so as to help create understanding, acceptance and respect to ID people.