Promotion of Special Olympics at Sports Day of HK Chamber of Commerce in Beijing

ATTENED BY OVER 400 GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND BUSINESSMEN

On June 19th 2010, the East Asia region of the Special Olympics took part in a Sports Day hosted by the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China at the Canadian International School in Beijing. Under the hot summer sun, volunteers and Special Olympic staff members helped lure passersby to partake in a golf putting game after they signed up as fans of the Special Olympics. Even with surrounding booths of all shapes and sizes along with a noisy community soccer game going on in the background, volunteers were able to flag down over seventy signatures and never let a contestant leave without making a putt. Volunteers and directors of the Special Olympics were thrilled to see such avid prospective member participation from the still untapped Beijing market.

Golf putting game 

Golf putting game

What many people did not know was that a successful former member of the Special Olympics and their educational system was one of the most focal members spreading awareness at the event. Judy Yang was the coordinating director of the four volunteers who through sweat and toil did great work towards putting in motion the snowball effect of awareness and participation for the Special Olympics in Beijing. As the afternoon wore on, volunteers brought out the official Special Olympics torch which children and parents flocked to take pictures with. One parent noted the “beauty” and “selflessness” of the organization in their attempt to restructure a system to cater to the intellectually disabled in China who had previously received little assistance.

Young fans of Special Olympics

To culminate the day’s activities, the volunteers lit the torch and took three laps around the complex helping to fuse onlooker’s conception of the recent 2008 Olympic Games with the ongoing efforts of the Special Olympics.  Hopefully after the organization’s efforts, people will begin to view the importance of the Special Olympics as parallel to that of the international Olympic Games when they realize that the intellectually disabled are not a liability but an opportunity to spread joy to children who deserve it more than anyone else. From the volunteers to the participants, everyone involved saw the day as a smashing success. Volunteer Katherine Tsen noted, “I love getting involved as much as I can. Helping the Special Olympics is a really fulfilling way to contribute and give back to society.” The day was just a stepping stone in the broader quest to integrate China’s capital as a leader in the Special Olympics awareness movement throughout China.  Even if not everyone sunk a putt at the event, everyone can become a winner and a fan of the Special Olympics!

Group photo of volunteers, SO athlete Judy Yang and Special Olympics staff

Volunteers：Jack Gaybrick & Kush J & Katherine Tsen Hiu Yung