A Shanghai teacher picked up a 200,000 yuan (US$24,165) award last night for designing the logo for the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai - the event's first stop in Asia.

Zhou Baomai, a Luwan District special school teacher, was honored at a ceremony at Shanghai TV Station along with winners in other promotional categories. Zhou's design features a green eye that holds two abstract figures striking athletic poses.

It was chosen from among 1,477 submissions from some 10 countries.

"It's the eye of those who are mentally challenged, expressing their hope to be respected by society. It's the eye of the rest of us, delivering to the disabled our deepest care and love," said Chai Junyong, secretary-general of the event's organizing committee.

The theme for the games will be "I know I can," submitted by Lou Ruzhen from Zhejiang Province.

A video based on baizitu, a traditional painting theme featuring the images of 100 children, was chosen as the event's TV public service announcement.

It was developed by two Americans, one Chinese and the Lifang Danyuan Design Workshop.

The winning theme was awarded 200,000 yuan and the video producers were given 300,000 yuan.

The Special Olympics will bring more than 10,000 athletes from some 150 countries and regions to Shanghai when it opens in October 2007.

(China Daily February 28, 2005)