Shanghai Daily news

Special Olympic athletes from all over the world will receive a warm welcome in Shanghai, Shanghai Daily reported.

The city's 18 districts and Chongmimg County will receive mentally and physically challenged athletes from September 28 to October 1 ahead of the 2007 Special Olympic Summer Games.

As there is no central athletes' village, delegations will stay in local hotels, and each district and county will host delegations from different countries, officials said yesterday.

Altogether 150 local communities will take part in the reception and organize activities for the mentally challenged athletes, showing them a good time outside the stadium.

The Games' executive committee will also recruit 1,500 local families to invite athletes to their homes for a party.

"We'll select families meeting our requirements," said Gao Julan, director of the community reception department of the executive committee. "For example, they should have a big-enough living room, as each family will host five to six athletes."

Gao said the community reception may face some difficulties, as different cultures have different requirements.

"For example, the reception days are during the Islamic month of fasting, and we'll have 2,000 Muslims from more than 40 countries participating in the Games," said Gao.

The committee will start classes in July for communities hosting athletes, teaching them about foreign languages, cultures and courtesy.

Also yesterday, the 2007 Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Summer Camp opened at Oriental Land in Qingpu District. Thirty-eight athletes selected as leaders will take part in the two-day camp, meeting local people.