Chinese winners of 33 Special Olympic gold medals arrived in Beijing on February 16. The team was welcomed by Ms. Wang Naikun, Vice Chairperson and Vice President of China Disabled Persons' Federation, and Mr. Lu Shiming, Vice Chairman of CDPF.

China sent althetes to compete in 5 events: Cross Country Skiing, Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Snowshoeing and Floor Hockey, and finally won 33 gold, 34 silver and 27 bronz medals.

It was China’s fifth team sent for SO winter Games. Chinese althetes had previously participated in 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2005 SO World Winter Games, held in Salzburg, Austria, Toranto, Canada, Alaska, US and Nagano, Japan respectively.

As described by Mr. Jia Yong, head of the delegation, China made a great progress in numbers of both medals and participating events. Meanwhile, the team members were not just from Heilongjiang, but from more provinces, such as Liaoning and Shandong. It was believed that after this Winter Games and 2007 Shanghai World Summer Games, Special Olympics will have further development in China.

Mr. Liu Lei achieved the second in Figure Skating Single and the third in Double competitions. He thought himself still need more practice for championship. This “old” skater who had been to SO Games four years ago also appreciated his family for their support and love.

There were some new faces in the team, too. It was the first time for Chen Shiping to appear in the games, but she successfully made herself the gold winner of Cross Country Skiing 100 meter competition. “It was important to make yourself relax. I felt very good to become friends with other countries altheltes during the competition.” She said.

Special Olympics is focusing on the promotion of sports among intellectual disabled people, with the aim to inspire their potentials through sports events and help them to enjoy an equal and happy life. SO World Games are consisted of Summer Games and Winter Games, organized every two years in turn. So far SOI has organized 12 Summer Games, including the last one in Shanghai in October 2007.