BEIJING, Oct.16 -- "I know I can," the slogan says.

And last night the 2006 Special Olympics Shanghai Invitational Games did, opening with a spectacular ceremony at the Shanghai Stadium.

As a run up event for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, scheduled for Shanghai between Oct. 2-11 next year, the event saw around 1,500 athletes from 20 countries gather to compete in 21 events.

China will be the first country in Asia to host the Special Olympics World Summer Games, designed for athletes with developmental disabilities, and will become the first nation in history to hold the Special Olympics, Olympics and Paralympics in a span of 12 months.

The government attaches great importance to the Special Olympics, Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said yesterday at a conference that gathered team leaders from the competing countries' delegations.

Hui urged bodies involved with the event to take the opportunity to build better facilities to care for mentally and physically disabled people.

Mayor Han Zheng said prior to yesterday's ceremony: "The event will provide mentally disabled people with the opportunity to compete on an equal platform and display their talent and ability."

He said the city has full confidence that the event would serve as a successful dress rehearsal for next year's Special Olympics.

(Source: China Daily)