Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Chairman of Special Olympics
International Timothy Shriver in Shanghai Tuesday, pledging more
government effort to integrate the disabled into the society, and
so that "they can share the fruit of China's economic and social
development."
Hailing the spirit of the Special Olympic Games which features
the aspiration to win, President Hu said the Games encourages
people with intellectual disabilities to challenge themselves and
realize the value of their lives, and help them to share with
others the achievements of human civilization.
Since its foundation in 1968, the Games had become a
comprehensive and large-scale sports event for the mentally
challenged all over the world, Hu said.
The Shanghai Games is the first time the Special Olympics Summer
Games are being held in a developing country, in Asia and in China.
Hu said it is also the first time China holds an all-round
international sports event for people with intellectual
disabilities.
"It will greatly promote the development of China's Special
Olympics, and contribute to the development of the international
Special Olympics cause," Hu told Shriver.
The Chinese president said China hopes the Games would help the
world better understand China, and strengthen the friendship
between people of China and the rest of the world. "I believe the
Shanghai Games would certainly achieve full success with joint
efforts of various parties," he said.
During a visit to a training center
for intellectually disabled in Shanghai on the National Day, Hu
chatted with Chinese and foreign disabled people and joined them in
outdoor games, wishing them to make more progress in physical
exercise and mental recovery.
China has nearly 83 million disabled people and among them about
9.84 million are intellectually disabled. Hu told Shriver his
government has been attaching great importance to maintaining their
rights and interests, and helping them get involved with the
society.
China has sent athletes to all the Special Olympics Summer and
Winter Games since 1987. The country has witnessed the fastest
development of Special Olympics in the world, with over 50, 000
athletes attending the event by 2005, President Hu said.
Meanwhile, China has been taking a series of important measures
to protect the rights and interests of the disabled people, Hu
said. China became a signatory state of the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities this year.
He pledged to continue to take care of and support the disabled,
and take the opportunity of the Shanghai Special Olympics to speed
up the development of the cause for the disabled and help them to
get more integrated with the society.
Shriver expressed his appreciation over China's efforts in
promoting the development of Special Olympics and spreading the
spirit of the Games. He said President Hu called upon the athletes
with intellectual disabilities ahead of the Shanghai Games,
displaying the Chinese government's efforts to promote the cause
for the disabled.
"It not only offers support to the international Special
Olympics but also sets an example for the whole world," he
said.
The Shanghai Special Olympics Summer Games, scheduled to open
Tuesday evening at the Shanghai Stadium, has brought together some
10,000 athletes and trainers from more than 160 countries and
regions.
(Xinhua News Agency October 2, 2007)
