The commitment and support demonstrated by the Chinese government to Special Olympics, and the World game is unprecedented in the history of Special Olympics.

• In 1996, President Jiang Zemin and premier Li Peng gave their respective inscriptions for the first Special Olympic Games of the Asia-Pacific region hosted by Shanghai;
• In 2000, president Jiang Zemin met the International Special Olympics Delegation;
• In 2002, Premier Zhu Rongji signed the documents for approving Shanghai to host the world's twelfth Special Olympics Summer Games in the year 2007.
• On March 2^nd, 2004, President Hu Jintao met the International Special Olympics Delegation; he recognized the endeavors made by SOI to promote the development of athletic cause for intellectually disabled people, while giving profound guidance on the hosting of the Special Olympics World Game, the continuing development on the undertaking of the Special Olympics movement and the disabled persons. He pointed out: "I think the work of Special Olympics is very important for people with disabilities but in reality, it has an important role in the comprehensive development of humanity around the world. ...Among the three athletic events of the Special Olympics, the Olympic Games and the Paralympics Games, the Shanghai Special Olympics will be the first to take place, and we hope it will mark a good beginning."