President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of April 11 with a delegation led by Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, and Mary Gu Shuhang (顧抒航), Special Olympics East Asia regional president & managing director. The president welcomed the delegation to Taiwan and briefed them on the government's achievements in promoting the Special Olympics.
In remarks, President Ma stated that the International Special Olympics Board of Directors has long promoted the Special Olympics, and he noted that the delegation is visiting Taiwan to attend this evening's 2014 Special Olympics East Asia Region Unity Gala Dinner in Taipei, an annual branding and fundraising event for East Asia region. The president expressed hope that this will help spread the spirit of the Special Olympics throughout Taiwan. He said that individuals associated with the Special Olympics here will work in conjunction with this activity to continue to promote the Special Olympics activities.
President Ma pointed out that the Special Olympics is a global non-profit organization, with 200 member organizations from over 170 nations. In its 52 years of existence, the organization has strived to provide services to people with intellectual disabilities throughout the world, he noted, helping to create a social climate of "acceptance, equality, and respect," and encouraging participation in Special Olympics activities.
The president commented that Chairman Shriver is a renowned educator, entrepreneur, artist, and philanthropist. President Ma said that Chairman Shriver, in his 17 years leading the organization, has provided services and assistance to the over four million Special Olympics athletes and their families from 170 countries and areas throughout the world. In addition, the president remarked, former US President Bill Clinton is just one of many leaders around the world who Chairman Shriver has called upon to help realize the vision of the Special Olympics. At the same time, President Ma noted, the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program has already become the world's largest public healthcare and health education movement for intellectual disabled individuals, and its services are provided free of charge. The president expressed admiration for the work carried out by the organization.
President Ma also recognized the efforts of Regional President Gu to ensure the success of opening ceremonies at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. In addition, the president pointed out, Regional President Gu was instrumental in encouraging internationally renowned athletes such as mainland Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming (姚明), Japanese footballer Hidetoshi Nakata, and mainland Chinese short track speed skater Yang Yang (楊揚) to become involved in charitable activities and serving as Special Olympics global ambassadors.
As for the achievements of Taiwan in promoting the Special Olympics, President Ma explained that the Special Olympics Chinese Taipei was authorized by the International Special Olympics Committee to be established in 1990, and the local committee subsequently began to promote the Special Olympics. Teachers at special schools for the disabled throughout Taiwan have served as volunteers to promote Special Olympics activities and extension events, he said. Some 25,000 Special Olympics athletes have been trained in Taiwan, and the quality and frequency of athletic activities for Taiwan's intellectually disabled persons have been enhanced considerably, which has done much to help these individuals become active outside the home and take a positive attitude toward school and work, he remarked.
President Ma stressed that Special Olympics competitors from Taiwan have trained hard and performed very well in international Special Olympics competitions. For instance, he said, athletes from Taiwan in the 2007 and 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games and the 2009 and 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games won a total of 87 gold medals, 94 silvers, and 79 bronzes. The president expressed hope that under the leadership of the Special Olympics Chinese Taipei Chairperson Huang Ming-Hui (黃敏惠), athletes from Taiwan are expected to again chalk up an outstanding performance in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.