Wu Guanzheng, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), ignited the flame at a ceremony at the foot of the Great Wall on September 25, 2007. [Photo: CRI Online]

Related: China Preparing Well for Special Olympics: Vice Premier

               Special Olympics

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Shanghai 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games entered its last leg, as the Special Olympics flame lightened Beijing on Tuesday night during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Over 140 representatives from home and abroad participated in the torch igniting ceremony at Juyong Pass of the Great Wall in northern Beijing at 8 o'clock in the evening.

Wu Guanzheng, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), took the torch to light the fire cauldron and announced the kickoff of the torch relay in China.

The torch, escorted by Special Olympics athletes and police officers, will then pass through Beijing, Harbin, Dalian, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Guangzhou, Jiaxing, Wenzhou, Nanjing, Hong Kong and Macao before the Special Olympics opens in Shanghai on Oct. 2.

On June 29, the Flame of Hope was lit near the Acropolis in Athens using the rays of the Sun, and then began a 35,200 kilometers journey across five continents to pass on the spirit and friendship of athletes and raise public attention and respect for individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities.

Chinese vice Premier Hui Liangyu also participated in the ceremony and delivered an important speech, calling the whole society for more attention to the intellectually challenged and vowed more efforts from the government to help them in rehabilitation, education, life and employment.

Chinese special athletes representative Ma Yunli expressed her excitement on the arrival of the Special Olympics flame in China, and called on support from all walks of life for the games and the disabled people.

The Special Olympics, which will take place in Shanghai from Oct. 2-11, will bring together some 10,000 athletes and trainers from more than 160 countries and regions.

The Special Olympics were established in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to provide children and adults with mental retardation with the opportunity to be trained and take part in Olympic sporting events.