Table Tennis Officials at the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2007 in Shanghai.

Our sincere thanks to all of the officials of Chinese Table Tennis Association, in particular, Sun Qilin, The Referee, for his excellent and hard work. He made us feel at home with his personality and professional workmanship.

From the opening ceremony on 2nd Oct 2007 in Shanghai stadium up to the time of the closing ceremony on 11th Oct 2007 in Jiangwan Stadium, the presentation and organisation was second to none. Every thing was in time and without a hitch. As spectators, officials, family members, everyone has the highest praise of the Chinese people. We, the Table Tennis officials from Ireland, have had occasion to meet officials of different sports over dinner parties during the period we were in Shanghai. Everyone seems to be of the opinion that ‘we have to wait and see’ if the next Special Olympics will be of the same calibre. It will be hard to equal the Chinese organisation. The Volunteers, interpreters and guides were so helpful all of the time and made themselves available each time we had need of them, and, in any functions or meetings that we attended, for which we are truly grateful.

We, two Irish Umpires, one Polish and the other Belarusian, were invited by a fellow Chinese Umpire, Sun Zhiping, at his apartment for lunch on Sunday, 7th Oct 2007. We were accompanied by two other fellow Chinese Umpires, Zeng Chen and Bing Hong Mei. We were welcomed by his family members with open arms. It was a Chinese cuisine, delicious dumplings (made by all of us), Sun’s wife showed us how to make them!. We all ate them with wine and mineral. This was one of the highest point of our trip to Shanghai. Thank you very much Sun and your family. Afterwards, Sun brought us to his school, Unley High School, where he is a PE teacher. The Head of the school, the Dean, came to welcome us. We actually had a game of table tennis there in their sports hall. At the end of day they provided transport safely to our hotel. We wish to thank staff of Unley High school for their kind hospitality and warm welcome. We have had a wonderful time.

Once again, we thank you China for your hospitality, we will not forget you.