Organizers of the Shanghai Special Olympics need help designing a mascot, posters and theme song for the games.

The organizing committee will accept ideas from all over the world, with the winning entries receiving cash awards.

Application forms can be found at the event's Website www.2007specialolympics.com.

Lyrics for the song can be penned in English, Chinese or both languages.

Three posters will be selected for the games. Each poster should include the title "2007 Shanghai Special Olympics World Games."

The deadline for submissions is November 30.

The winning mascot designer will take home 50,000 yuan (US$6,250), while each of the winning posters will be rewarded with 20,000 yuan in cash. The composer of the theme song will take home 120,000 yuan.

More than 10,000 athletes from 177 countries and regions will compete at the games next October 2 to 10.

China is the first Asian country to host the Special Olympics, which were founded in 1968.

(Shanghai Daily September 26, 2006)