Five-time world skating champion Michelle Kwan, center, during the Special Olympics Sports Day event at the Beijing Sports University in Beijing on 21 January. (All photos courtsey of Special Olympics East Asia)

It was an eagerly anticipated event for Special Olympics East Asia and Beijing Sport University when figure skating champion Michelle Kwan took part in Special Olympics Competition Day on 21 January 2007 in Beijing, China.?

Kwan is an American figure skater and media celebrity who has won nine U.S. championships, five world championships , and two Olympic medals. She has remained competitive for over a decade and is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history.

Kwan was named the first American public diplomacy envoy by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on 9 November 2006. In her new post, she travels around the world to engage youth in a dialogue on the importance of education, positive health practices and respect for diversity.

"I believe everyone can achieve their dream as long as they never give up," said Kwan at Competition Day. "It's a great honor to be invited to participate in this event and to be with the athletes. I always feel more like myself when I'm dressed in sports clothes and doing something athletic."

At Special Olympics Competition Day in Beijing, Special Olympics China athletes presented U.S. Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Jr. (left) and U.S. Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen P. Hughes (right) with gifts in appreciation of their participation in the event.

The visit to Special Olympics Competition Day was the culmination of a tour of China with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen P. Hughes, during which they met with students, women's groups, business and community representatives, government officials, and the media. In their visit to Special Olympics Competition Day, they were accompanied by Ambassador to the People's Republic of China Clark T. Randt, Jr., as well as staff and guests of the U.S. Embassy.

Opening speeches at Special Olympics Competition Day included remarks from Special Olympics East Asia President Dicken Yung, Special Olympics East Asia Managing Director Tsin Yan-pui, Special Olympics China Chairman Wang Zhijun, and the Deputy Headmaster of Beijing Sport University, Chi Jian.

Special Olympics Competition Day drew substantial media coverage, partly due to the visits of such high-profile personalities. More important, the event drew participation from more than 120 Special Olympics volunteers, teachers, coaches, and 80 Special Olympics athletes representing four special education schools in Beijing.

"The entire day was full of joys and successes, and evidence of improved cooperation among Special Olympics China, Special Olympics East Asia and the China Disabled Persons Federation," says Yung.

During her visit, Kwan said she was quite impressed by everyone involved with Special Olympics and Special Olympics Competition Day. She took the opportunity to meet with senior leaders from Special Olympics East Asia and the China Disabled Persons Federation, to better comprehend the development, progress and challenges encountered in the quest to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in China. Kwan also asked several questions and listened intently to athletes, parents, staff and volunteers of Special Olympics, to learn more about the movement.

After sports demonstrations and athletic instruction by trained volunteers, athletes reveled in competitions including basketball, gymnastics, table tennis, Unified Sports?, and a rousing awards presentation.

Co-sponsored by The Timken Company and UBS AG, Special Olympics Competition Day was but one component of the Special Olympics East Asia University Initiative-a long-term endeavor involving physical education students and teachers from around China. A week prior, more than 150 volunteers received training at Beijing Sports University to augment the quantity and quality of Special Olympics coaches, volunteers and leaders.

The University Initiative (currently in place at universities in five cities around China) reaches out to students and teachers specializing in Physical Education, Special Education and Regular Education. As future coaches, volunteers and leaders for the Special Olympics movement, these trainees return to their respective universities and organize competitions, conduct research projects, and host special events for Special Olympics athletes and their families.