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The 16th Special Summer Olympics kicked off in German capital Berlin on Saturday with more than 7,000 athletes from around 190 countries and regions competing in 26 sports.
During the opening ceremony, China's Artistic Gymnastics coach Gao Chengshuang, representative of coaches, took an oath, while German tennis player Sophie Rensmann lit the main cauldron with the torch.
China send out a delegation of 128 people, of which 89 are athletes, who will compete in 11 disciplines including athletics, badminton, basketball, football and gymnastics.
Alongside traditional competitions, 16 events under the guideline "Unified Sports" will take place, demonstrating the value of inclusive sports where athletes with and without disabilities compete together.
The Games are held every four years as the winter and summer Olympic Games. This edition, running until June 25, represents the largest multi-sport event in Germany since the 1972 Olympic Games held in Munich. Berlin is expecting over 300,000 spectators during the period.
The first Special Olympics was held in Chicago, U.S. in 1968. China is the first Asian country to host the event – Shanghai 2007.
(Xinhua)
