Organizers of the 2007 Shanghai Special Olympics are carefully planning accommodation and sightseeing activities for the athletes.

In recent weeks, Ms. Gao Jvlan has been awfully busy. As the top reception supervisor for the upcoming Games in the city, she has just finished visiting more than 150 local areas involved in the reception program, including hotels and residents' homes.

This year, the Games' over 10,000 intellectually disabled athletes will be staying in hotels in these areas that are close to venues where their sports events are taking place, and also visit local residents before the competition starts.

After a round of inspections, Gao admits it's a challenge to deliver a satisfactory yet impressive program for the Special Olympics athletes.

Gao says:"So far, more than 10,000 Special Olympics athletes from 163 countries and regions have entered for the Games in October, and we are now preparing accommodations and community activities for them. But the final athlete name list won't be out until mid-September, which leaves us only one week to settle everything."

Gao also says her inspection covers a wide range of issues, such as accommodation, fire and food safety, communication, and program activities. And no detail in the program is too small to neglect, such as removing glass objects from athlete's rooms for their personal safety. The director says challenges still lie ahead, as several factors are adding complications to the preparations.

Gao says, "Athletes are coming from different cultural and religious backgrounds. They are scattered over different local areas. So backup plans to meet different catering and customs must be created. Especially since this October is the Islamic Month of fasting, it will create strict catering requirements for more than 2,000 Muslim athletes and coaches."

Zhou Jie from Shanghai TV, says:"Ms. Gao says she will conduct another round of inspections soon in those communities spread out over 19 local districts and counties. While some may wonder the reason why these intellectually disabled athletes are spread out, officials say it is actually for the Games and the spirits of the cause."

Different from other sporting events where athletes are gathered in a big village, it's the Special Olympics' tradition to spread the event out in the host city.

Officials say such spreading-out allows for deeper interaction and promotes greater understanding between people with and without intellectual disabilities, as athletes will also visit local residents and scenic spots for a better sense of the culture during their stay in Shanghai.

In this way, the spirits of understanding, acceptance and inclusion are promoted more successfully.

Executive of Special Olympics International,Peter Wheeler, says, "Most importantly, the attitude of people around them change, which makes a more welcoming environment for people with intellectual disabilities, provides them more opportunities to succeed, more opportunities to have new things they can try in life."

At the same time, officials hope such an arrangement can help bring out the best of the athletes for the competition.

Peter also says, "I think athletes are athletes first. The thing about spreading the event out is that the athletes are having the house by the sport. It will be athlete friendly. They are not going to travel an hour on the bus. The are close to their venue, and they could go out and do best in the sports."

While there are issues that still needs to be addressed, Special Olympics International officials are happy with Shanghai's preparations, and are impressed with the effectiveness of the local organizers.

They are excited and confident in carrying out the Game for the 10,000 intellectually disabled athletes as well as their accompanying parents.