The event is being attended by 1,065 athletes from 31 municipalities, provinces, autonomous regions in the mainland and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, in addition to a delegation from Singapore, according to Jia Zhibang, governor of Shaanxi and director of the event's organizing committee.

"The number of participating athletes in this games is 400 more than the total of the last two games and with more than 2,300 judges, coaches and reporters, the event is the largest of its kind in China's history," Jia said.

Jia said the growth of the games shows the improvements of the physical and living conditions for the mentally disabled have progressed.

To ensure the success of the games, the Shaanxi provincial government has been organizing the event for the past two years.

During the five-day event, which ends on Friday, the athletes will compete in track and field divisions, swimming, table tennis, basketball, football and weight-lifting, in addition to bowling.

The Special Olympics is operated by an international organization founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and is dedicated to empowering mentally handicapped individuals to become physically fit, productive and respected members of the society through sports training and competition.

China's Special Olympics was founded on June 17, 1985 and games were held in 1987 in Shenzhen and in 1991 in Fuzhou.

On May 24, 2002, China won the bid for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, to be held in Shanghai.

The special games are co-sponsored by the China Disabled Persons' Association, State Sports General Administration, China Mental Disabled Sports Association and the Shaanxi provincial government.

(China Daily September 9, 2002)