The athletes cross the finish line during the cross country running event on January 30, the first day of the Special Olympics (photo: Jeon Han). The athletes cross the finish line during the cross country running event on January 30, the first day of the Special Olympics (photo: Jeon Han).

With around 3,000 participants from 106 countries, the Special Olympics World Winter Games PyeongChang 2013 are now in full swing.

A special program called the Special Hands Program is underway to make the sporting event a world festival engaging with people all around the world.

Under the Special Hands Program, the Special Olympics Organizing Committee is extending “special hands” to seven developing countries which are participating in the Special Olympics for the first time, offering an opportunity to get involved in the Special Olympics. It is also expected to make the Special Olympics more “special” by raising awareness of intellectual disabilities and expanding cooperation between the host country and the participating countries.

The seven invited countries include Nepal, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, and Thailand.

The athletes from Thailand who were invited through the Special Hands program enter the Yongpyeong Dome at the opening ceremony on January 29 (photo: Jeon Han). The athletes from Thailand who were invited through the Special Hands program enter the Yongpyeong Dome at the opening ceremony on January 29 (photo: Jeon Han).

 
The Korean government has set aside funds to enable the delegations from the seven countries to participate in the Special Olympics, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies and a variety of cultural events taking place throughout the games.

Such high-ranking officials as Mongolia’s Minister for Nature, Environment and Green Development Sanjaasuren Oyun, also serving as the leader of the Civil Will, and Mongolian senior adviser of the Cabinet Ariun Galbadrakh will attend the Special Olympics games, while Cambodia and Nepal are sending their Deputy Ministers of Youth Sports.

Deputy Minister-level officials engaged in sports for the disabled from the seven invited countries attended the Global Development Summit on human rights and policy issues concerning those with intellectual disabilities. It was a meaningful opportunity to boost interest in intellectual disabilities and come up with strategies to improve related welfare systems.

The goal is to raise public awareness of the intellectually disabled in underdeveloped and developing countries and help raise interest in Korea.

The athletes from Parkistan who were invited through the The athletes from Parkistan who were invited through the Special Hands program get a big round of applause from the audience at the opening ceremony in Yongpyeong Dome (photo: Jeon Han).

“Korea has risen from a country which received aid from other countries to one which now lends a helping hand to those countries in need,” said chairwoman of the Special Olympics Organizing Committee Na Kyung-won. “I hope the Special Hands Program will make the Special Olympics a festival joined by people from all around the world.”

The delegations from the seven countries arrived in Korea on January 27. They first participated in the Host Town Program, a four-day program to help athletes with intellectual disabilities acclimate to Korea’s unfamiliar food, culture, climate, and environment before the event. They will experience the warmth and diversity of Korea during the eight-day visit, on the same schedule as the delegations from other countries.
 
[Source:Korea.net]