Communities and families throughout the city opened their homes and hearts on Friday to participants of the Special Olympics Invitational Games with warmth that amazed Bruce Pasternack, president and CEO of the Special Olympics International.

More than 30 athletes and eight coaches from the Russian delegation received a warm reception and interacted with local residents at the Caohejing Recreational Centre in Xuhui District. The pre-games are designed to help competitors with developmental disabilities understand Chinese culture and acclimate to living in a foreign country.

"Our athletes from Russia feel at home here in Shanghai," Pasternack said.

"What we are trying to do is to bring athletes from all over the world to China, and let them showcase their ability and what they can do well and have them all make friends no matter what culture they are from," he added.

Since Wednesday, 400 participants from 19 delegations from countries including Russia, the United States and South Korea have arrived in the city for the 2006 Special Olympics Shanghai Invitational Games.

The 2006 Special Olympic Shanghai Invitational Games, which attracted more than 4,000 volunteers, is a pre-game warm-up for the 2007 Special Olympics Games in Shanghai.

The community reception is just the beginning of the Games' events, leading up to 21 competitions to be held between October 16 and 18. "This host town programme is wonderful for the athletes to come in and to learn about culture in China and to become friends with people in local communities of Shanghai," said Kirk Miles, a director of the Special Olympics International.

"To this point, I can say it has been absolutely marvelous," he said, adding that the reception put together by the organizing committee in Shanghai makes delegations' visits wonderful experiences.

The warmth and hospitality of Shanghai people impressed Valery Antonov, team leader of the Russian delegation.

"Shanghai is very big and her people are so welcoming and nice," Antonov said during his maiden trip to China.

"The great event helps the special group of people understand and cherish each other regardless of their national, physical and mental status," he added.

He said the competition and medals are not very important for his athletes. "If they win, excellent. But if they lose they are still winners because they have overcome their own problems to be here," he said.

(China Daily October 14, 2006)