SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1981
4
HONG KONG PROUD TO HOST SPECIAL OLYMPICS, GOVERNOR SAYS
******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID HE WAS PROUD THAT HONG KONG HAD BEEN CHOSEN TO HOST THE FIRST PAN PACIFIC SPECIAL OLYMPICS WHEN HE OPENED THE GAMES AT WAN CHAI SPORTS GROUND THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING.
WELCOMING SOME 200 PARTICIPANTS FROM 15 COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, SIR MURRAY EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT IN ADDITION TO TAKING PART IN THE GAMES THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING OF BOTH OUR MODERN CITY AND THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE WHICH SURROUNDS IT.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE EVENT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LONG CALENDAR OF SPECIAL OCCASIONS ORGANISED DURING THIS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE DISABLED PERSON.
THE TWO-DAY EVENT, THE FIRST BEING HELD IN THE PAN PACIFIC REGION, IS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT'S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE AND THE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS.
THE TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS ARE BEING HELD IN THE WAN CHAI SPORTS GROUNDS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY. THE SWIMMING EVENTS AND THE BASKETBALL AND TABLE TENNIS COMPETITIONS WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT CHI FU GARDEN INDOOR SWIMMING POOL AND THE ABERDEEN INDOOR GAMES HALL RESPECTIVELY.
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH 1
CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
+MY WIFE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO OFFICIATING AT THIS CEREMONY, BUT WITH RECENT OPERATIONS ON BOTH HER LEGS SHE IS TEMPORARILY CLASSIFIED AS AN UNREHABILITATED DISABLED PERSON. FROM HER WHEEL- CHAIR IN ENGLAND SHE HAS ASKED ME TO TAKE HER PLACE AND TO SAY HOW DISAPPOINTED SHE IS NOT TO BE HERE.
+WE ARE BOTH PROUD THAT HONG KONG HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO HOST THE FIRST OF THESE PAN PACIFIC SPECIAL OLYMPICS. I WARMLY WELCOME ALL OUR VISITORS FROM THE 15 COUNTRIES TAKING PART. HOPE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE GAMES THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING OF BOTH OUR MODERN CITY AND THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE WHICH SURROUNDS IT.
+THESE GAMES ARE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LONG CALENDAR OF SPECIAL OCCASIONS ORGANISED DURING THIS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE DISABLED PERSON. THESE INCLUDE A VERY FULL PROGRAMME OF SPORTING EVENTS HAPPILY BRINGING TOGETHER THE HANDICAPPED AND THE ABLE BODIED, WITH RESULTING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT, AS WELL AS MUCH GOOD SPORT.
+ CONGRATULATE THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE, AND WISH THE GAMES AND THE PARTICIPANTS EVERY POSSIBLE SATISFACTION AND SUCCESS.+