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A delegation of 31 Chinese undergraduate and graduate students from 16 universities attended the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games as special guests of Special Olympics University. These students were nominated to attend by leading university faculty in the field of intellectual disability research and traveled to the World Games from universities in Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Baotou, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Jinan, Fuzhou and Hong Kong. 
The goal of the student delegation was to engage the next generation of leaders on issues related to intellectual disability, with the hope that they will become advocates for the Special Olympics movement as their careers develop. The student delegation was created as both an educational and inspirational experience. Students participated in the Opening Ceremony festivities and “Commitment to Change: Global Policy Summit on the Well-Being of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities,” toured the Healthy Athletes® venue, and attended bowling and basketball events and the Special Olympics Sport Experience.
“I never knew that there are athletes from so many countries until I saw the Opening Ceremony,” said Yin Minmin, a student from Shandong Physical Education Institute.
The student delegation itinerary included many opportunities for this next generation to network with one another and with current leaders in the intellectual disability field.
This experience provided valuable experiential learning to students who previously had little or no hands-on training on issues related to intellectual disabilities.
“You can learn so much from them [people with intellectual disabilities]. Usually you think of us helping them, but they can help us too,” said Chen Yaqiu, a student from Beijing Normal University.
Fewer than half of the students participating in the delegation knew someone with an intellectual disability prior to attending the World Games, and while over half had attended Special Olympics competitions in the past, only a few had served as Special Olympics volunteers. “I did not know that athletes are old and young; they aren’t just children. I did not know that Special Olympics is for people of all ability levels,” said Ma Hongliang, a student from Shanghai University of Sports.
The experience of being at the World Games has made a lasting mark. Even the student delegation coordinator, Kim-Tien Huynh, was transformed by this experience. “This was a truly inspirational experience which has changed my life! I have not yet figured out how I am going to incorporate this experience into my future career and personal goals, but I am determined to do so in a meaningful way.”
Students realized that many people with intellectual disabilities could work and have jobs and they wanted to bring back that learning experience to their universities. Laura Ho, a student from the Centre for Advancement in Special Education, University of Hong Kong, mentioned that she would be willing to go back to her university and share her experience with others. Lirong Ou, from Wenzhou Medical College Affiliated Eye School, expressed an interest to teach people how to communicate with individuals with intellectual disabilities.
“This is an important start which will have impact later,” Dr. Stephen B. Corbin, Dean of Special Olympics University, told the students. “You are important to the field of intellectual disabilities. It is from you that we will learn and introduce more students to Special Olympics.”
Many members of the student delegation are looking to further their experience with Special Olympics by volunteering with their local Programs, interning and exploring research opportunities within their college or through the Special Olympics Health Professions Student Grant program
“From this experience, I will go back and encourage others to get involved with Special Olympics,” said Ma Hongliang. |
