“The opening ceremony was visually striking with dazzling lighting, fireworks, costumes, and overwhelmingly emotional music.” -BBC“Chinese President Hu Jinatao kicked off the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games here last night, capping a remarkable turn around in China’s official treatment of people with mental disabilities.” – The Wall Street Journal
The opening ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics was the first major international broadcast emanating from modern day China. Eighty thousand fans filled Shanghai stadium as hundreds of millions of viewers around the world tuned in. The theme, “Harmony: The Common Dream of Humanity” captured the country's ancient culture, and promoted the spirit of harmony among the 165 nations that participated.