The 12th World Summer Special Olympics Games, for people with a learning disability, Commence October 2nd, in Shanghai City, China.

The event will be the largest sporting event in the World this year with over 7000 competitors from 153 different countries.

Special Olympics G.B. are sending 155 athletes who will compete in 16 different sports.

Athletes have been selected from 19 regions across Great Britain. All the athletes selected were nominated and chosen after attending the National British Summer games held in Glasgow 2005. Support to get the athletes to these World games has come from their regions with help from volunteers and family members. Along the way Domino pizza and Virgin Atlantic have come on board as Team G.B. sponsors, and also support from Lions clubs.

All athletes are members of Special Olympics groups in the regions of G.B. and have been preparing for this event over the last two years.

Athletes will be assembling at Local departure points on Tuesday 25th September to travel to Heathrow to meet up with full Team G.B. in preparation for a flight out to China the following day. G.B. athletes are flying out early to acclimatise and also to participate in Host Town. Districts of Shanghai City have adopted the G.B. Team for 5 days to give them the opportunity to sample Chinese culture and join a number of celebrations before the games get under way on the 2nd October. Athletes return to Britain over a three day period between Friday 12th Oct and Monday 15th Oct.

Family members from the regions are travelling to China to support the team and in total 211 family members will be cheering on the G.B. Team.

Head of Delegation for the G.B. TEAM Keith Wilcox says “ Special Olympics World Games may not yet have the same status as The Olympics or the Para-Olympics but it does give the same opportunity for athletes within the Special Olympics programme to participate on a World stage against fellow competitors thus providing sporting competition for all members of the community, this event will be a truly memorable sporting occasion for all”

To follow the progress of the team log onto www.teamgb2007.org.uk for daily news updates. Also log onto www.bbc.co.uk and then click into disability sport.

For more information contact your local Special Olympics person from our web site contact list.

If after you have followed our Progress at the World Games you would like to be involved in some way, either as a volunteer, coach, or by making a donation to help maintain the programme or you know of a person who would like to be a member of Special Olympics please contact via 0207 696 5569 or log onto www.sogb.org.uk

If you have already supported us either by making a donation or as a volunteer your support has been invaluable. Thank you.