The 2006 Special Olympic Shanghai Invitational Games opened in the Shanghai Gymnasium Sunday evening.

Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu declared open the Games, an important rehearsal of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

More than 2,100 athletes and officials from around 100 countries and regions will take part in competitions in 21 sports in the next three days.

Hui also presented at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games Chef de Mission Meeting concluding here Sunday afternoon.

The 12th Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Shanghai next October. It is anticipated that more than 10,000 athletes and officials from more than 150 countries and regions will participate in the first Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Asia.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2006)