Global Leaders Converge for Special Olympics Global Policy Summit

Global Leaders Converge for Special Olympics Global Policy Summit

October 05, 2007

Government, Health, NGOs, Sports, Academic, and Business
Leaders Issue a Call to Action to Improve the Well-being of
Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities


    SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 5 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Leaders
across government, health, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), sports, academic and business representing 60
countries gathered today at the 2007 Special Olympics World
Summer Games in Shanghai, China, to make a commitment to
people throughout the world with intellectual disabilities
and their families. Hosted by Special Olympics
International, the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games
Committee, and China Disabled Persons' Federation,
"Commitment to Changing Lives: The Global Policy
Summit on the Well-being of People with Intellectual
Disabilities" is the largest summit event to cast an
unprecedented light on the attitudes and needs of people
with intellectual disabilities and the challenge they face
throughout the world. The event brought together the
greatest collection of key global leaders in an effort to
educate, inform, and activate about critical issues facing
individuals with intellectual disabilities. 

    (Logo:
http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/200611161203-min.jpg )

    "The commitment made today by leaders from all
sectors will help further the opportunities and rights of
people with intellectual disabilities and the work of
Special Olympics worldwide," said Timothy P. Shriver,
Chairman, Special Olympics International. "Through
sport, Special Olympics lays a foundation for
community-based development and advancement; collaboration
with global leaders extends the reach even further for
peace, prosperity and human dignity."

    Using the powerful platform of sport, the Global Policy
Summit presented five core areas: a global snapshot
highlighting key research findings on the attitudes toward,
status of and prospects for people with intellectual
disabilities; an in-depth analysis of the progress that
China has made and plans to strengthen outreach to this
population as a World Games legacy; model corporate, NGO
and intergovernmental inclusion and collaboration policies
and practices that support and engage people with
intellectual disabilities; discussion of model laws and
policies currently in place and future policy
implementation; and, the role of sport in advancing peace,
fitness and health for people with intellectual
disabilities. The Summit incorporated more than 30
scientific presentations about people with intellectual
disabilities from around the world, while furthering
opportunities for this community.

    "The Global Policy Summit will be one of China's
greatest legacies to Special Olympics," said Wang
Zhijun, Chairman, Special Olympics China. "We are
honored to showcase 25 years of impact and development of
essential resources serving China's intellectual disability
community in front of an unprecedented gathering of peers
and influential global leaders."

    Key addresses by high-ranking officials -- Her
Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the
Philippines, the Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor
of California, USA, and the Honorable Margaret Spelling,
U.S. Secretary of Education - focused on empowerment
through community development, the power of Special
Olympics to change lives and inclusive education,
respectively.

    "I am here to make a call to action to governments
throughout the world, businesses, and NGOs that we really
can make a difference for people for intellectual
disabilities," said Bianca Jagger, International Human
Rights Advocate, Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador,
Chair of the World Future Council and friend of Special
Olympics. "And we are seeing a real turning point here
in China and at these World Games."

    The Special Olympics movement was strengthened as
UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and Lions Clubs International Foundation announced
official "Commitments to Action" and encouraged
other attendees to follow their lead. And earlier this
week, FIFA pledged its commitment to Special Olympics. A
UNICEF-Special Olympics partnership will promote the
participation and empowerment of children with intellectual
disabilities and their families through sports, initially in
Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, El Salvador, Jamaica, Panama and
Uzbekistan, and will seek to build self-reliance,
confidence and advocacy skills through joint activities
that are already promoting the inclusion of children and
young people with intellectual disabilities, in addition to
increasing youth activation and early intervention efforts.
CDC and the Lions Clubs International Foundation announced
continued support for Special Olympics and its health and
research efforts with funding commitments. CDC recently
renewed a five-year cooperative agreement with Special
Olympics for services and education at US$4.34 million per
year plus a five-year US$1 million per year research
cooperative agreement. The Lions Clubs International
Foundation extended its seven-year, US$9.1 million
commitment to the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs
International Opening Eyes(R) program, a vision program
that has effectively provided more than 100,000 vision
screenings to Special Olympics athletes and has provided
more than 40,000 Special Olympics athletes with
prescription eyeglasses, by earmarking an additional US$1
million in funding. 

    The Global Policy Summit culminated with leaders from
government, NGOs, academic, corporations and sport,
including Special Olympics sponsors such as Coca Cola, Bank
of America and Phoenix Satellite TV, endorsing a Statement
of Support targeting improving the treatment of, and
attitudes toward, people with intellectual disabilities.

    The full text of the Statement of Support, available in
English and Chinese, official Global Policy Summit program
and additional information about the 2007 Special Olympics
World Summer Games, is available at
http://www.specialolympics.org .

    Special Olympics is an international non-profit
organization dedicated to empowering individuals with
intellectual disabilities to become physically fit,
productive and respected members of society through sports
training and competition.  Founded in 1968 by Eunice
Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides year-round
sports training and competition to 2.5 million adults and
children with intellectual disabilities across 165
countries.  The Special Olympics Movement offers one of the
world's greatest platforms for acceptance and inclusion for
all people--regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or
cultural differences.  Corporate sponsors of Special
Olympics include: adidas, Bank of America, The Coca-Cola
Company, DHL, Mattel, Inc. and Mattel Children's
Foundation, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Find
out how you can become involved at
http://www.specialolympics.org .


    For more information, please contact:

     Jessica Stone 
     Special Olympics International
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]