Jessie Dong/ Shanghai Daily news

A research team studying the impact of the Special Olympics on the public has said the world needs to change its attitude to people with mental disabilities, Shanghai Daily reported.

Stephen Corbin, who is a member of the team, said on Friday a recent global survey showed that most people underestimated the capabilities of mentally handicapped people and believed including mentally handicapped people in their lives would be a negative influence.

"We need a positive attitude from the public to promote social inclusion with these people," Corbin said at a Special Olympics forum in New York. "Actually our study shows that 85 percent of these people can function pretty well."

The survey, which canvassed 10,000 people from 13 countries, also showed many people think mentally handicapped people should live with their families and that they should either not work or work in segregation from people without disabilities.

Corbin's research is funded by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and supported by Special Olympics International.

"The Special Olympics provides the athletes' parents, volunteers, sponsors as well as many others, opportunities to see how (handicapped people) can achieve their potential, to see their competence," Corbin said.

The Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and first held in the United States 38 years ago.

By the end of last year, China had about 500,000 athletes taking part in training for the Special Olympics.