As Shanghai waved goodbye to the Women’s World Cup Sunday night, the city welcomes another international athletic competition on Tuesday. This week’s event is similar to the women’s soccer in the sense that both appeal to our politically correct sides. By that I mean that we are expected to be overly supportive of both competitions even though most of us would never consider paying money to go see it. And also, the two events are comparable in that if you do attend either and tell a girl about it, your chances of “getting some” will increase exponentially. You might have guessed it. I’m talking about the Special Olympics, taking place in Shanghai over the next 10 days. The games are more special than usual this year. For one, it’s the first time the Summer events will be held in the Eastern hemisphere and just the second time outside of the United States. And also, the event will constitute the biggest sporting event of 2007 anywhere in the world, involving 7,500 athletes from 165 countries. Oh yeah, and Lion Dancing is an event this year. While, as I said, I don’t really have an urge to go watch the Special Olympics, I think its neat that the preeminent athletic competition for the intellectually challenged occurs in Shanghai this year. It’s like a mini trial run for the non-special Beijing Olympics and it’s also good for Shanghai’s image. For months now, the famous advertisement of Zhao ZengZeng, a Special Olympian has been everywhere in Shanghai. Zhao has become become the world’s most visible person with Down’s Syndrome since that show “Life Goes On.” I love this photo because its the actual girl from the ad standing next to the ad itself. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday at the Shanghai Stadium. “Star-studded entertainment” has been promised for the ceremony. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to address the Global Policy Summit on the Well-Being of People with Intellectual Disabilities on Wednesday and Hu Jintao is in town for the first few days. You can watch the Special Olympics for free at the organization’s website if you so desire. Flumesday welcomes the athletes to Shanghai and just because I won’t be attending doesn’t mean that I don’t hope these Special Olympics are as special they’ve ever been.

•Shanghai Daily: Special Olympics Get a Presidential Touch
•AFP: China hosts biggest ever Special Olympics

Trackback this Post | Feed on comments to this Post