Chinese President Hu Jintao declares the opening of the 2007 Special Olympic World Summer Games at the opening ceremony held in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 2, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)
SHANGHAI, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Hu Jintao declared open the 2007 Special Olympic World Summer Games at the opening ceremony here on Tuesday.
A record 7,291 athletes from 164 countries and regions are set to take part in the 21-sport Games slated for Oct. 2-11 in Shanghai, with the eldest aged 69 and the youngest at 8.
Marking the first time the Games have been held in Asia, the Games also welcome 2,302 trainers, more than 20,000 family members of the intellectual disabled athletes, celebrities, VIPs and some 40,000 volunteers from all over the world.
Fireworks explode in the sky above the stadium during the opening ceremony for the 2007 Special Olympics at Shanghai Stadium in Shanghai, east China on Oct. 2, 2007. The Shanghai Special Olympics Summer Games was staged here Tuesday. (Xinhua Photo)
The three-hour-long opening ceremony was visually striking with dazzling lighting, fireworks, costumes and overwhelming music.
The extravagant ceremony, featuring 5,800 performers, started with a drum show called “Harmony: Hearts Beating As One”, performed by actors with intellectual disabilities.
“Individually each drum produces a unique sound, but together each separate sound complements the other to create a unified single chord which expresses the Special Olympics spirit of harmony and embrace, ” music director Liu Tong revealed just ahead of the ceremony.
“I hope the music can express the Special Olympics’ spirit to the world and let all the people be surprised by the talent and courage of the Special Olympics athletes,” added Liu.