DUSHANBE, September 28, Asia-Plus -- 24 Tajik athletes will take part in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games that will be held in Shanghai, China from October 2-11, 2007. Asia-Plus has learned from Vamarij Murodov, a spokesman for Tajikistan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC).

 According to him, the Tajik team members include 18 athletes with intellectual disabilities aged 12 to 48, who won various republican tournaments.    

President Emomali Rahmon has assumed payment of expenses on participation of Tajik athletes in this important international sports event, the spokesman said.

The event will mark the first time the World Summer Games will be held in Asia, and only the second time they will be held outside the United States.  In addition to almost 7,500 athletes, Special Olympics expects the 2007 World Summer Games to draw 40,000 volunteers, 3,500 event officials and thousands of families, volunteers, spectators and journalists from every continent.

Special Olympics athletes of all ability levels will compete in 25 different Olympic-type and demonstration sports: aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, bowling, cricket, cycling, dragon boat racing, equestrian, football (soccer), golf, gymnastics, judo, kayaking, lion dancing, powerlifting, roller skating, sailing, softball, table tennis, team handball, tennis and volleyball, as well as motor activities training program.  Special Olympics athletes not competing in the World Games will play crucial leadership roles off the sports field as officials, assistant coaches, reporters and spokespeople.

 Tajikistan joined the Special Olympics organization in 1990 and Special Olympics Tajikistan was registered with the Ministry of Justice in 1996.  Special Olympics Tajikistan now serves more than 6,000 adults and children in the country.  

Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization* dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports.  

Special Olympics currently serves 2.5 million people with intellectual disabilities in more than 200 Programs in 165 countries.