During May 4-8, 2009, Special Olympics East Asia ALPs Global Messenger Training was held in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China. 11 athletes and 11 mentors from mainland China, Chinese Taipei, Korea and Macau participated in the training. Kathryn Clark, Director of SOI Athlete Leadership Program, Zhijun Yong, National Director of Special Olympics China, Xincheng Cai, Deputy Director of Jiangsu Disabled Person’s Federation, Nailiang Hu, Director of Department of Publicity, Jiangsu DPF, Officials from Wuxi Disabled Person’s Federation, and Officials from Wuxi Education Department attended the openning ceremony.

Jiang Jun, an athlete leader presiding at the openning ceremony

11 athlete leaders

The training content is more diversified in form. The course included not only the introduction of Special Olympics, ALPs program and simplified sports rules (Divisioning), but also the supplementary training for improving public speaking skills (speech writing, public etiquette and making a presentation). In addition, this training was not just focusing on athlete leaders but also emphasizing the role of the mentors who leant about how to guide the athlete leaders in the appropriate ways and they were expected to become the ALPs trainer when they returned home.

Most of the athletes showed their leadership capability which was reflected from their receptivity and active reaction to training courses, and their confidence and decent body language when they were delivering speeches.

Serious students

Practice class

The Party and Unified Sports activities facilitated the mutual understanding among the athletes and mentors as well as the trainers. We all enjoyed very much from the Party and sports activities.

Unified Activities

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Friend time - after class