XN000022-1978-10-26 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1978

LADY MACLEHOSE OPENS GAMES DAY FOR THE HANDICAPPED

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THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN GAMES AND SPORTS EVENTS MUCH CAN BE DONE TO DEVELOP ONE'S CONFIDENCE, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE AS WELL AS COMMUNICATING WITH OTHERS.

THIS WAS STATED BY LADY MACLEHOSE TODAY WHEN SHE ADDRESSED THE GATHERING AT THE OPENING OF THE THIRD ANNUAL GAMES DAY OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL OLYMPICS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AT THE SOUTH CHINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION'S STADIUM.

LADY MACLEHOSE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE BUSY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WORKING ON SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF SPEECH BY LADY MAC LEHOSE AT THE OPENING OF THE THIRD ANNUAL GAMES DAY OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

+MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

+I SHOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO OFFICIATE AT THIS OPENING CEREMONY TODAY.

+THESE ARE THE THIRD SPECIAL OLYMPICS TO BE HELD IN HONG KONG AND THEY FORM PART OF A WORLD-WIDE SPORTS AND RECREATION PROGRAMME FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED. THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN GAMES AND SPORTS EVENTS MUCH CAN BE DONE TO DEVELOP CONFIDENCE, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE AS WELL AS COMMUNICATING WITH OTHERS.

+THIS YEAR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAVE BEEN ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WHO, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, ARE BUSY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WORKING ON SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

+WE SHOULD ALL BE GRATEFUL TO THE ORGANISERS FOR THEIR WORK IN THIS FIELD CULMINATING IN WHAT TODAY SHOULD BE A DAY OF FUN AND PLEASURE.

+I AM HAPPY TO DECLARE OPEN THE THIRD ANNUAL GAMES DAY OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL OLYMPICS.+

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