9.12.2003 ET

(CSRwire) Beijing, China -- Special Olympics today announced a program in China and a partnership with Nike to reach 6,000 new athletes, increasing the number of Special Olympics athletes in this country to 186,000. This program is part of a five-year plan to recruit, train and offer competitive experiences to 500,000 athletes in China by 2005.

Nike, to help kick off the program, will donate 600 NikeGO product and equipment kits valued at $550,000 USD. Special Olympics China will distribute the NikeGO kits to local schools with the goal of reaching 6,000 new athletes in the coming year.

"Special Olympics has set a challenging goal to reach one million new athletes by 2005," said Mr. Yan Mingfu, Chairman of Special Olympics China. "The donation of the NikeGO kits will play a significant role in reaching new athletes in China by providing special schools the quality equipment that our athletes deserve but may not be able to provide."

The announcement was made at Xi Cheng Special School in Beijing, one of many schools that will receive a NikeGO kit from Nike and benefit from the development of Special Olympics program. Each kit supports 10 athletes and includes the following items: apparel for athletes and coaches, five footballs, five basketballs, stop watches, cones, relay batons, measuring tape, banners, award ribbons, sports rules guides and instructional videos.

"Nike is committed to increasing the participation of young people in physical activity to improve their lives," said Robert T. Speltz, Director of Global Community Affairs for Nike. "It is an honor for us to be able to help bring the joy of competitive sports to athletes who will have the pleasure of participating in a Special Olympics program for the first time."

The initial phase of the NikeGO initiative will distribute kits to 87 schools in 20 provinces, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Dalian and Shenzhen. The second phase will distribute kits to additional urban areas and surrounding villages.


About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation. More than 1 million athletes in more than 150 countries train and compete in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with mental retardation continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families and the community. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit Special Olympics online at www.specialolympics.org.

About Nike
NIKE, Inc., based in Beaverton, Oregon USA, is the world's leading designer and marketer of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Nike focuses its philanthropic effort on two key areas: bringing the benefits of physical activity to young people, and investing in innovative solutions to the challenges of globalization faced by women and girls. Each year, Nike targets to give three percent of its prior fiscal year's per-tax profits to charitable organizations around the world. In fiscal year 2003, Nike donated more than $30 million in cash, product and in-kind contributions, meeting its three percent goal for the fourth consecutive year. For more information, visit www.nikeresponsibility.com.

For more information please contact: