Xinhua News Agency, Guangzhou, March 8th (reporter Zheng Zhi, Wang Haoming) “Are you ready?” “Ready!” The loud answer echoed in the stadium. The Chinese sports delegation of the 15th World Summer Special Olympics officially appeared in Guangzhou on the 8th. They will go to the UAE that day, which is the ninth time that China has participated in the World Summer Special Olympics.
According to the introduction, the Chinese sports delegation of this special Olympics consists of 148 people, including 104 athletes from 19 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government. They will participate in track and field, swimming, integrated football, basketball, table tennis, weightlifting, gymnastics, roller skating, grounder and badminton are played in 10 events, among which the football team is a fusion team, and Special Olympics athletes and sound partners jointly form teams to participate in the competition. Most of the delegation athletes come from special education schools, with an average age of 19.5. Li Xiaoqi, the youngest swimmer, has just turned 10.
During the integration activity on that day, the performance of basketball fengshui ball and football playing piles showed by Special Olympics athletes triggered warm cheers and applause on the spot. The ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to China Ali Zahiri, the Paralympic rowing champion Zhou Yangjing, the Asian Games rowing champion ou Shaoyan and other guests extended their blessings to the delegation and cheered for the athletes. They also communicate skills with Special Olympics players in basketball, table tennis and football item integration activities to enjoy sports joy together.
Zhao Sujing, deputy head of the delegation and secretary general, put forward in his speech that he hoped that all athletes would compete in style and level and show the best state during normal training; I hope that athletes and coaches will make more friends with other members of the team; I hope that coaches and staff will care more about and care for athletes to ensure the successful completion of the task.
The World Special Olympics is a global comprehensive sports event specially held for people with intellectual disabilities, which is held every two years and alternately in winter and summer. Shanghai held the 12th World Summer Special Olympics in 2007. The 15th World Summer Special Olympics will be held in UAE from March 14-21, 2019. There will be more than 7500 Special Olympics mobilization organized by more than 190 members, more than 4,000 coaches and staff participated in 24 major competitions.