The President’s message reads, in particular:
“Your impressive achievements deserve our most sincere respect. They demonstrate the colossal moral and physical potential inherent in people and illustrate just how great is the strength and possibilities we have. Through your example and your attitude to life you teach us how to overcome difficulties and never give up. Each of your awards is the result of difficult daily training requiring stubborn effort and total dedication.
Your trainers and instructors also play an important part in your victories, of course, as do all those who help you to conquer sporting summits, generously sharing with you their knowledge and experience and developing unique new training methods for you.
I wish you success in the competition ahead, good health and prosperity. I hope these Games will be a source of joy and self-confidence for you”.
The Special Olympics for people with intellectual disabilities have been organised since 1968. Special Olympics organisations have been established in more than 170 countries. The Special Olympics are taking place from October 2–11 in Shanghai.