Shanghai Daily news 

Hotel managers and tourism officials were given a special training course yesterday to hone their service skills for the Special Olympics.

The course, which was organized by the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission and the Games' executive committee, covered aspects of hotel management and even touched on subjects like religion.

"Most of the Special Olympic athletes have never been to Shanghai, so this is a chance for us to showcase the image of the city," Dao Shuming, director of the commission, said yesterday.

Dao said local hotels would look after 160 delegations with more than 10,000 members from different countries, and the athletes would receive a warm welcome in Shanghai.

The 94 local hotels will begin to accommodate athletes on September 28, four days before the opening ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympic Summer Games.

Gao Julan, director of the community reception department of the Games' executive committee, said the Special Games differs from the Olympic Games where athletes would leave individually after finishing their own events.

"The Special Olympics athletes will leave in groups after the whole event ends, so the hotels will accommodate athletes until October 12," Gao said.

Because of the long reception period, many wedding parties have been delayed, even some that had been booked beforehand.

Liu Zhiqin, general manager of Wugong Hotel, said he was impressed by the 100 couples who had booked the hotel for wedding parties during the holidays in October - all of the couples said they were willing to make a change for the Games and didn't seek any compensation.

Liu said hotel staff could face difficulties, not only because different cultures have different requirements but because special athletes need special attention.