She added that society has become inclusive to its weakest members, especially in recent years. Activities have been organized and care centers for the well being of those with intellectual disabilities have sprung up across Shanghai.

"Everyone here is very excited and my daughter had been talking all the way to the sports center," said the mother of Zhou Lepei, 27, a Shanghai athlete with a severe intellectual disability, who also participated in the program Thursday.

The Shanghai Special Olympics, the first of its kind held in Asia, has been a great success thus far. "Shanghai and China have given us a new benchmark," said Jim Grossman, co-chair of 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, which will be held in Idaho, the United States.

"We won't be able to match what China has done, frankly."

Stunned by Tuesday's phenomenal opening ceremony, Grossman, leading half of the board members for the Winter Games, said his emotional highlight was when two intellectually disabled athletes slogged through sections of the Great Wall restructured by hundreds of martial artists. "We had the hearts and spirits (there)," he said.

A veteran of the Special Olympics movement, the co-chair has witnessed China's growth from a "society that didn't recognize people with intellectual disabilities" to one of the "leaders the world in respect, understanding, appreciation and value for all the members of society".

"You have done in seven years what took 30 years in the US," he said. "I can only imagine what will happen in seven years from now."

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