Don Mischer Productions to Produce Opening Ceremonies of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Don Mischer Productions to Produce Opening Ceremonies of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games

April 10, 2006

    SHANGHAI, China, April 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Today,
at the Friendship Hall of the Shanghai Exhibition Center it
was announced that award winning Don Mischer Productions
would produce the Opening Ceremonies of the upcoming 2007
Special Olympics World Summer Games.  In October 2007,
Shanghai, China will be the world stage for the 2007
Special Olympics World Summer and will bring together
20,000 to 30,000 athletes, coaches, family members and
supporters from 170 countries around the world celebrating
the abilities and potential of people with intellectual
disabilities.  The Games promise to be the largest sports
and humanitarian event in the world next year, less than
one year prior to the Olympic Games scheduled for Beijing.


    (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040302/LNTU017LOGO 
          
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060410/CNM006LOGO )

    At the press conference, Dr. Derong Shi, Chief
Executive Officer of 2007 Special Olympics World Games
Executive Committee, made the announcement.

    Don Mischer, the Executive Producer for the Opening
Ceremony, is an internationally recognized producer and
director of television and live events. The Opening and
Closing Ceremonies of 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games
and 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games, both Don Mischer
Productions were highly rated events -- stunning, emotional
and highly acclaimed worldwide.  "I look forward to
working with the Special Olympics 2007 Games Committee and
with the artistic community in China to create a Ceremony
that brings the passion and spirit of Special Olympics to
life," said Mischer.  "On October 2, 2007, the
Shanghai Stadium will be transformed into a place where
differences are appreciated and celebrated.  The Ceremony
will shine a spotlight on the dignity of human life and the
beauty of the human soul."  

    Mischer and fellow Executive Producer David Goldberg
will spend the coming days visiting Shanghai and Beijing
researching the arts and cultural community for background
and use in the production of the Opening Ceremony.  Dr.
Derong Shi commented on the rationale of choosing Don
Mischer Productions, "Don has a significant reputation
and strong experience in organizing and producing
global-scale events.  His leadership in the Opening
Ceremony will attract international celebrities to be a
part of the event and coverage from international
media."  The Opening Ceremony is planned to be
broadcast throughout China and around the world.  Many
corporations choose to become sponsors of the Special
Olympics World Games, using this good opportunity to
communicate their corporate responsibilities to the world.

    The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games promise
not only to be a world-class sporting event and spectacular
occasion, but also an historic one which will build cultural
bridges and foster a global vision of inclusion and
acceptance for all.  The combination of Don, the leadership
of the Games Organizing Committee, in particular, Vice Mayor
Zhou and Dr. Shi, and the magnificent city of Shanghai and
its people ensure that these Games will be of the highest
quality and memorable for years to come," added Bruce
Pasternack, Special Olympics International President and
CEO.

    Special Olympics China Chairman Mr. Zhijun Wang and
Vice Mayor Zhou attended the press conference. 
 
    About Don Mischer Productions

    Don Mischer is an internationally recognized producer
and director of television and live events who has been
honored with thirteen Primetime Emmy Awards, a record nine
Directors Guild of America Awards for Outstanding
Directorial Achievement, two NAACP Image Awards, a Peabody
Award for excellence in broadcasting, and Europe's
prestigious Golden Rose of Montreux. Joined by David
Goldberg, they have been in collaboration nearly thirty
years. Together, their producer/director credits range from
the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Salt Lake Winter
Olympic Games, Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, Hong Kong 1997
Spectacular, the Kennedy Center Honors, PBS Dance in
America, and the 100th Anniversary of Carnegie Hall, to
Motown 25, the Presidential Inaugural Gala, Barbara
Streisand's Millennium Concert in Las Vegas, and the NFL
Super Bowl Halftime Show with Paul McCartney.

    About Special Olympics

    Special Olympics is an international organization that
changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and
inclusion between people with and without intellectual
disabilities.  Through year-round sports training and
athletic competition and other related programming for more
than 2.25 million children and adults with intellectual
disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics
has created a model community that celebrates people's
diverse gifts.  Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver,
Special Olympics provides people with intellectual
disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their
potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage
and experience joy and friendship.  There is no cost to
participate in Special Olympics.  Visit Special Olympics at
http://www.specialolympics.org .

    For more information, please contact:

     Kathryn Ferb                                          
                
     Consultant                                            
                 
     Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide                     
   
     Tel:   [phone]                               
              
     Fax:   [phone]                               
             
     Email: [e-mail]                        
  
						  
     Ding Ying
     Media Relations Manager  
     2007 Special Olympics World Executive Committee
     Tel:   [phone] x823
     Fax:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]
     Web:   http://www.2007specialolympics.com

SOURCE  Special Olympics