New York University will get involved in the Special Olympics more deeply as it is to set up partnership with Special Olympics on the occasion of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai.

The activity, to be held on October 10 in Shanghai's Mayfair Hotel, will also serve as a celebration of the October 2-11 Summer Games in Shanghai.

All the Team USA athletes, their families and the volunteers coming from New York University will feature in the interactive event.

World renowned director and visiting professor Richard Schechner from the School of Arts, New York University, will also make his appearance, guiding the athletes and volunteers to watch the rehearsal of the first-ever theatrical presentation of Hamlet to be performed in China. He will then engage the athletes in a discussion and question & answer session.

Founded in 1831, the renowned university is the largest private university in the United States. It has cooperated in many areas with Special Olympics New York for a long time.

The relationship with the Special Olympics is timely because New York has been chosen as the pilot city for a new Urban Strategy developed by Special Olympics.

The university will help double the number of athletes in New York from 20,000 to 40,000 by the end of 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2007)