Liaoning Province’s 20th National Special Olympics Day Special Olympics Football Experience Event kicks off in Shenyang

China News Service, Shenyang, September 25 (Jiang Yueheng) The 20th National Special Olympics Day Special Olympics Football Experience Event in Liaoning Province with the theme of "Football Shows Confidence, Special Olympics Moves to the Future" kicked off on the 24th in Shenyang, Liaoning. This event was hosted by the Liaoning Provincial Disabled Persons' Federation and jointly organized by the Liaoning Provincial Disabled Persons' Sports Association and the Shenyang Disabled Persons' Federation. Nearly 200 Special Olympics athletes, coaches, disabled volunteers, and parents of students participated in the event.

The atmosphere at the event was warm and welcoming. Children from special education schools took the stage to perform a wonderful African drum program, and the neat and sonorous drumbeats kicked off the Special Olympics football experience activities. On the green field, under the guidance of volunteers, children from special education schools participated in four interesting football projects: "The ball travels thousands of miles", "Rolling forward", "Integrated pinch ball" and "You chase me". Everyone devoted themselves wholeheartedly and cooperated tacitly. They ran and tried bravely in dribbling, protecting the ball, and cooperating with each other. Even if they made occasional mistakes, they quickly adjusted and started again.

The scene of the 20th National Special Olympics Day Special Olympics Football Experience Event in Liaoning Province. Photo provided by Liaoning Provincial Disabled Persons’ Federation

According to reports, this event has a five-a-side integrated football friendly match, using an integrated competition model of five male Special Olympics athletes against four female Special Olympics athletes plus one able-bodied female athlete. The competition promotes practice and practice promotes growth, allowing the team members to accumulate practical experience and consolidate their competitive foundation in preparation for national Special Olympics events.

At the competition site, the five-a-side fusion football friendly match was very fierce. The participating players passed the ball accurately, moved flexibly, and had a tacit understanding of offense and defense. There were cheers and cheers from the scene.

Lu Yun, coach of Dadong District Peizhi School, said that this Special Olympics football experience event has established a high-quality display and communication platform, allowing the public to further understand and understand special groups, guiding the whole society to treat special children with an attitude of equality, respect, and tolerance, helping disabled groups to equally participate in social public activities, and enhancing the social inclusive atmosphere of disability assistance. She expressed the hope that children can gain happiness, temper their will and strengthen their bodies in sports, break through themselves and grow up through equal participation.

Having been deeply involved in the field of Special Olympics sports training for many years, Lu Yun has personally experienced the transformation and growth of special children in sports. The growth experience of student Zhu Xina is very representative. According to reports, Zhu Xina used to be introverted, poor at communicating, had weak physical fitness, and was hospitalized for illness all year round. After years of systematic Special Olympics sports training, she has achieved an all-round transformation. Not only has she completely improved her physical condition and said goodbye to frequent illnesses, her personality has also become more cheerful and confident. Now she has served as the captain of the school's women's sports team. She is able to organize training independently, actively communicate and collaborate, fully realize self-care, and her comprehensive ability has been significantly improved, which makes Lu Yun very happy. (over)