Today, at the Friendship Hall of the Shanghai Exhibition Center it was announced that award winning Don Mischer Productions would produce the Opening Ceremonies of the upcoming 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

In October 2007, Shanghai, China will be the world stage for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer and will bring together 20,000 to 30,000 athletes, coaches, family members and supporters from 170 countries around the world celebrating the abilities and potential of people with intellectual disabilities. The Games promise to be the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world next year, less than one year prior to the Olympic Games scheduled for Beijing.

At the press conference, Dr. Derong Shi, Chief Executive Officer of 2007 Special Olympics World Games Executive Committee, made the announcement.

Don Mischer, the Executive Producer for the Opening Ceremonies, is an internationally recognized producer and director of television and live events. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies of 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games and 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games, both Don Mischer Productions were highly rated events a€¡°stunning, emotional and highly acclaimed worldwide. "I look forward to working with the Special Olympics 2007 Games Committee and with the artistic community in China to create a Ceremony that brings the passion and spirit of Special Olympics to life," said Mischer. "On October 2, 2007, the Shanghai Stadium will be transformed into a place where differences are appreciated and celebrated. The Ceremony will shine a spotlight on the dignity of human life and the beauty of the human soul."

Mischer and fellow Executive Producer David Goldberg will spend the coming days visiting Shanghai and Beijing researching the arts and cultural community for background and use in the production of the Opening Ceremonies. Dr. Derong Shi commented on the rationale of choosing Don Mischer Productions, "Don has a significant reputation and strong experience in organizing and producing global-scale events. His leadership in the Opening Ceremonies will attract international celebrities to be a part of the event and coverage from international media." The Opening Ceremonies are planned to be broadcast throughout China and around the world. Many corporations choose to become sponsors of the Special Olympics World Games, using this good opportunity to communicate their corporate responsibilities to the world.

The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games promise not only to be a world-class sporting event and spectacular occasion, but also an historic one which will build cultural bridges and foster a global vision of inclusion and acceptance for all. The combination of Don, the leadership of the Games Organizing Committee, in particular, Vice Mayor Zhou and Dr. Shi, and the magnificent city of Shanghai and its people ensure that these Games will be of the highest quality and memorable for years to come," added Bruce Pasternack, Special Olympics International President and CEO.

Special Olympics China Chairman Mr. Zhijun Wang and Vice Mayor Zhou attended the press conference.

About Don Mischer Productions
Don Mischer is an internationally recognized producer and director of television and live events who has been honored with thirteen Primetime Emmy Awards, a record nine Directors Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement, two NAACP Image Awards, a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting, and Europe's prestigious Golden Rose of Montreux. Joined by David Goldberg, they have been in collaboration nearly thirty years. Together, their producer/director credits range from the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games, Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, Hong Kong 1997 Spectacular, the Kennedy Center Honors, PBS Dance in America, and the 100th Anniversary of Carnegie Hall, to Motown 25, the Presidential Inaugural Gala, Barbara Streisand's Millennium Concert in Las Vegas, and the NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show with Paul McCartney.