Sports23/10/2007Uzbekistan’s delegation attends Special Olympic Games in Shanghai
A delegation of Uzbekistan, including 41 persons, participated in the World Special Olympics in Shanghai, China. The event took place from 28 September to 12 October.
Over 7,000 special athletes from 162 countries participated in competitions on 12 Olympic sports. Uzbekistan competed in such types of sports as artistic gymnastics, judo, athletics, table tennis, basketball, football and weightlifting.
Leaders and representatives of the various countries arrived in Shanghai to support the World Special Olympic Games. Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Svetlana Inamova was among honourable guests of this event.
The opening ceremony of the games was held in the largest stadium of Shanghai and over 85,000 persons attended it. The delegation of Uzbekistan also actively participated in the ceremony.
Ms Inamova met with leader of International Special Olympics Timothy Shriver, head of Special Olympics Europe-Eurasia Michael Smith, advisor of Special Olympics Europe-Eurasia Michel Deurinck, advisor of UN General-Secretary on sports Adolа Ogi, representatives of UNICEF and other organizations. The sides considered issues on development of Special Olympics movement worldwide, development of sport and integration of people with special needs through sports.
The Global Policy Summit on the Well-Being of People with Intellectual Disabilities was held within framework of the Special Olympic Games. Over 400 representatives of various countries participated this summit. The summit aimed at to attract attention of society to problems of people with special needs. International leaders, representatives of NGOs and businesses proposed concrete measures to improve development and integration of disabled people into society.
On initiative of International Special Olympics, Uzbekistan made a presentation on measures on these directions, carried out in Uzbekistan and Central Asia as whole.
Returning to Special Olympic Games, it should be noted that Uzbekistan’s performance was successful and the athletes won 19 medals, including six gold medals, seven silver medals and six bronze medals.