Shanghai Daily news

Although 20-year-old Xu Chuang has a slight intellectual disability, he was able to find a job at Amway Corporation Shanghai. He and his mother credited his success to the power of the Special Olympics.

Now Bao Meiqin, Xu's mother, a doctor working in a kindergarten, has written a book on her son, titled "Xu Chuang's Adventure Out Into The World," which is to be published soon by Wenhui Publishing House.

The book, with about 100,000 words and 50 photos, records the experiences of Xu and his family since birth.

Bao started to write the book in August last year. "I have so many stories about my son's life after he was involved in the Special Olympics, and I wanted to write them down, telling people that even a mentally challenged person can reach great achievements."

Xu said he hasn't finished reading his mother's book, but will after it is published. "I thank my mum for doing so much for me, the book and all, since I was a baby," he said.

Xu will take part in non-sports events during the 2007 Special Olympic Summer Games. He was in the soccer team at the 2003 Special Olympics in Dublin, Ireland. He and his team won second place.

"Unfortunately, I was just a substitute player then, and I didn't make much contribution on the field," said Xu modestly.

Xu and his mother, however, have done much for the Special Olympics outside the arena, ever since he ran in 2002 at the city's sports meeting for the intellectually disabled. He represented his school, the Shangnan Special Education School.

In 2002, Xu attended the Third National Special Olympic Games in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, as a school reporter. Bao went along with him.

"I just couldn't believe that the intellectually disabled athletes got that much care and love; officials at the Games embraced and kissed them as if they were their own children," said Bao.

In 2004, Xu was selected as a Global Special Olympic Messenger. Two years later, he was invited to the White House to the 85th birthday party for Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympic Games.

"I'm very grateful to Mrs Shriver, who gave an opportunity for mentally challenged children from all over the world to prove themselves," said Bao.

As the only Special Olympic family leader in the Eastern Asia area, she has tried her best to promote the Games' spirit, persuading more families to allow their mentally challenged children to take part in the Games.

"I believe the Games will save a whole generation of the mentally challenged in China," she said.

Xu works as an administrative assistant for Amway, going on business trips to promote the Special Olympics two or three times a month.

This August Xu went to the White House for the second time for the Law Enforcement Torch Run. There he saw President George W. Bush again.

"He is a very nice man," Xu said. "But I still think Clinton is more charming. I saw him in 2004 in Nagano, Japan, at the Youth Summit."

Xu said his present busy life made him proud of himself. "When I was little, I wasn't confident as I couldn't do as well as others, and I hated people smirking at me," he said. "Now I no longer care what others think of me, as I believe I can prove myself."