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Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman, introduced 11 Special Olympics Belgium athletes who will be competing in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. |
In less than one year, Shanghai, China, will welcome 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities, representing 169 countries to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. As a buildup to the Games, Chinese Embassies across Europe will be hosting receptions to attract greater awareness of and support for the Special Olympics movement. In Brussels, the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Belgium, co-hosted a reception on 28 March 2007. Two hundred guests from the diplomatic corps, European institutions, business and media attended the reception. Also attending were Special Olympics International Board Members Walther Troeger and Angelo Moratti, and members of the Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Advisory Council.
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Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman (third from left); H.E. Chengyuan Guan, Ambassador, Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union (fifth from left); James Moran, Director for Asia, European Commission (standing behind the ambassador); and H.E. Qiyue Zhang, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Belgium (third from right) with Special Olympics Belgium athletes. |
Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver was the keynote speaker at the Brussels reception. “If you want to talk to people with the greatest gifts of human tolerance, come see Special Olympics athletes,” Shriver said. Shriver then invited the 11 Special Olympics athletes from Belgium who attended the reception and will be part of the World Games delegation to stand next to him, and were greeted with enthusiastic applause from the guests.
Joining Shriver as speakers were H.E. Chengyuan Guan, Ambassador, Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union; H.E. Qiyue Zhang, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Belgium; James Moran, Director for Asia, European Commission; and Catriona Ryan, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Athlete Representative. Michael Smith, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Managing Director, served as master of ceremonies.
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Two hundred guests enjoyed a reception that combined the spirit of Special Olympics with the hospitality of the Chinese people. |
Shriver, who arrived in Brussels the morning of 28 March, had a full agenda for the day. In the morning, he met Erden Erginel, Member of the Cabinet of the European Union's Commissioner for Health, Markos Kyprianou. Prof. Dr. Luc A.M. Marks, Professor at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Special Care at Ghent University and longtime Clinical Director of the Special Olympics Special Smiles® initiative in Belgium, also attended the meeting. The meeting served to introduce the Healthy Athletes® initiative to the Commission and explore potential areas of support and cooperation.
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From left to right: William Gaillard, Director, Government Affairs & Communications, UEFA; Andre Hellebuyck, Vice President, AIG Insurance Group; Timothy Shriver; and Walther Troeger, Special Olympics International Board Member, during lunch at the European Parliament. |
Lunch was held at the European Parliament and hosted by Chris Heaton-Harris, Member of the European Parliament, MEP (United Kingdon) who has supported Special Olympics awareness-building football events at the Parliament. Also attending the lunch were William Gaillard, Director, Government Affairs & Communications, UEFA; Pat Cox, Former President of the European Parliament and Chairman of the European Movement; Pedro Velazquez, Deputy Head of Sport Unit, European Commission; Pal Schmitt, MEP (Hungary) and President, World Olympians Association; Walther Troeger; John Richardson, Development Advisor, Madariaga Foundation; and Andre Hellebuyck, Vice President, AIG Insurance Group. Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia staff members Michael Smith; Michel Deurinck, European Union Development Advisor; and Christo Velkov, Director for South East Europe, also attended the lunch.
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Timothy Shriver meets with HSH Philippe, Prince of Belgium at the Royal Palace in Brussels. |
All attendees were unanimous in their belief that Special Olympics is much more than a sports organization: it is about social cohesion, tolerance and community - all important themes on Europe's agenda. During the lunch, a commitment to support Special Olympics came from the sports, business and political representatives.
In the late afternoon, Shriver had a private meeting with H.S.H. Philippe, Prince of Belgium at the Royal Palace. The Belgian royal family has been a longtime supporter of Special Olympics Belgium.
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