The city of Shanghai and Special Olympics International Committee signed a package of agreements Tuesday in Beijing, officially kicking off preparations for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.  

Held once every two years, the Special Olympics has been widely praised as "opening a door to the world for mentally retarded people, winning once rejected people social recognition and applause.''

According to the agreements, the Shanghai Special Olympics Games will provide venues for 18 competitive events for about 7,000 athletes from over 150 countries and regions competing.

The total budget of the Shanghai Special Olympics Games is US$45 million.

This is the first time a developing country, or an Asian nation, has hosted the event.

Before the signing ceremony, President Hu Jintao received Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics International Committee, and his mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics Committee in 1968.

Hu said the Chinese Government is attaching great importance to the games, believing they will provide an excellent opportunity to enhance mutual understanding between the Chinese people and those from other countries. He said the event will bring about additional international cooperation in the future.

Timothy Shriver called China a "leading force'' in world Special Olympics activities. Through the 2007 big event, China will serve as a model for other countries in the world to melt away differences and turn them into friendship and understanding, he said.

(China Daily March 3, 2004)