July 21 – 25, 2008, Special Olympics East Asia held its regional Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) governance training in Shenzhen. SOEA Managing Director Anna Chan, Sports Director Charlie Chang, and Xu Chuang, former Global Messenger from Shanghai, China, and other SOEA staff and trainers attended the training.

 

SOEA Managing Director Ms. Anna Chan and Sports Director Mr. Charlie Chang presenting certificates to athlete leaders

The participants were athlete leaders and mentors from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Taipei and Korea. Altogether 16 athletes, 14 mentors as well as 20 volunteers from Mattel Shenzhen participated.

The athlete and mentor were required to sit neighbor to an unfamiliar athlete or mentor who was from the different country or province. All participants were divided into 3 groups. For most of the time the group listened to the training courses and fulfilled every task together. Each group had a great teamwork though they spoke different languages (mandarin, Cantonese and Korean).

 

Group discussion

 

Board of Directors and Committee members are debating

Xu Chuang, the former global messenger played as an athlete trainer to introduce the ‘role of a leader’ and the tasks of athlete in the training. He did a great job and showed all a good example as a leader.

 

Xu Chuang was introducing 'the role of a leader'

20 Volunteers from Mattel Shenzhen were very excited to join the Unified Bocce activity and compete with the athlete leaders. The volunteers were surprised and admired while watching the athletes practicing as the officials in the competition. All participants from Mattel were keen to participate in more SO activities.

 

Athlete officials measuring during the Unified Bocce Competition

 

Mattel volunteers with the athletes