Special Olympics East Asia - 2008 Special Olympics Chairman and President Visited Beijing during Paralympics Games

During Sep 5-9, Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics International (SOI) and Mr. Brady Lum, President and COO of SOI visited Beijing.

During this short but eventful visit, Dr. Shriver and Mr. Lum attended the Beijing Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony as honoured guests and visited some on-going competitions. Besides, Dr. Shriver and Mr. Brady, accompanied by Ms Anna Chan, Managing Director of SO East Asia office based in Beijing, attended a series of meetings with partners and government officials, including that with IPC President Sir Philip Craven, Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liang-yu, UNICEF China Chief Representative Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) Chairman Deng Pufang, and other top officials from CDPF and other Chinese government organizations. Dr. Shriver and Mr. Lum also visited Beijing Shishahai Sweet Home, a model community center for disabled people and met with athletes, teachers and family members, as well as representatives from major sponsors to SOEA.

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu meets with Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of SOI

Dr. Timothy Shriver visited the cycling venue and attended the Victory Ceremony for cycling competition

Dr. Timothy Shriver, Mr. Brady Lum and Ms. Anna Chan, Managing Director of SO East Asia had a lunch meeting with Ms. Tang Xiaoquan, President of CDPF and Mr. Wang zhijun, Chairman of SO China

On September 6, Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu met with Dr. Shriver, Mr. Lum and Ms Chan at Zhongnanhai. During the meeting, Premier Hui said that "caring for people with disabilities is a significant way to promote peace, friendship and human progress." He also said that the Special Olympic Games in Shanghai last year and the Beijing Paralympic Games will serve as a platform for people with disabilities from all over the world to realize their dreams. The two Games will also further promote the well-being of people with a disability in China. Highly praising the efforts of the SOI to promote the Special Olympics movement globally, Hui said that he hoped the SOI would continue to support the Special Olympics movement in China and enhance bilateral cooperation for further progress. Dr. Shriver congratulated Hui on the successful organization of the Beijing Olympic Games and wished the Paralympics would also be successful. He also extended wishes to continue working with the Chinese government as well as the people, volunteers, families and athletes to push forward the development of Special Olympics.

On September 7, the guests paid a visit to Beijing Shi Shahai sub-district community center for disabled people called Sweet Home. Leaders from Special Olympics China, Beijing and Xi’cheng District Disabled Persons’ Federation accompanied the SOI guest during the visit. Visiting the facilities for disabled people and having interactions with local people with intellectual disabilities, the guests were deeply impressed by the achievements made by the disabled people. They and other visitors toured around the center and played Bocce and table tennis with the intellectually disabled people there. Dr. Timothy Shriver stressed that SOI would continue to work with the government, local Special Olympics and other related organizations to bring the joy of sports to more people with disabilities and to bring hope to more families.

On Sep.8, Dr. Shriver and Mr. Lum had a breakfast meeting with long-term sponsors to Special Olympics East Asia. Representatives from UBS AG, Coca-Cola, Cathay Pacific/Dragonair Airlines, Bayer, and Beijing Kerry Centre Hotel joined together with Dr. Shriver and Mr. Lum to discuss on the opportunities and challenges faced by Special Olympics and other NGOs for further development in China.