China's Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Thursday urged organizers to ensure the success of the World Summer Games of the Special Olympics in Shanghai.

 

Hui, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, asked an organizing committee of the Special Olympics to better attend to the needs of athletes at the Games.

 

The World Summer Games of Special Olympics, an international sport event for athletes with intellectual disabilities, will be held from October 2 to 11 in China's biggest city.

 

Hui said a successful Games could ignite the hopes of more intellectual disabled people, give them confidence and engage them more with the rest of society.

 

It was also an opportunity for the world to learn about China's attention and concern for those with intellectual disabilities, Hui said.

 

The experience of a successful Special Olympics would be beneficial for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, he added.

 

He asked members of the organizing committee to carefully arrange accommodation, food and healthcare for all athletes and guests and attend to the needs of athletes from different countries and nationalities.

 

All the competition arrangements and schedules should be strictly in line with international practice and game rules, Hui said.

 

Hui, accompanied by leader of CPC municipal committee Xi Jinping and Mayor Han Zheng, visited Games venues during his stay in Shanghai.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2007)