Wang Qingyan, a junior art student at Fujian Normal University, designed the five fruit mascots of a sports gala during the fifth Special Olympics Games of China in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. [China.org.cn]

Wang Qingyan, a junior at Fujian Normal University, spent her summer making gifts for children with mental disabilities who will participate in a sports gala organized by the school on Tuesday.

Wang, an art student, made five dolls representing fruits – an apple, orange, pear, peach and guava – carrying a message of love, health and inclusion that were chosen as the sports gala mascots. Most of the 150 children attending the gala are competing at the fifth Special Olympics Games of China in Fuzhou, Fujian Province.

Wang is just one example of how university students are teaming up with the Special Olympics. Through the Fujian Research Institute of Special Olympics, the first such research institute based in universities, students have been able to take courses on the Special Olympics and use their knowledge in outreach programs during the event.

Each of the gala's participants was accompanied by a student volunteer who had taken a FRISO-developed course.

"The gala provides the children with intellectual disabilities a stage to display their talents," said Mei Xuexiong, FRISO's director. "But it also enables college students to get closer to those children and enrich their social responsibilities."

So far, since it was established in 2009, FRISO has hosted three sports galas and teamed up with dozens of colleges and universities to offer courses on the Special Olympics.

Many universities have already begun offering Special Olympics-related courses since 2003 with help from the Special Olympics organization of China. Its Special Olympics University Project has a specially designed curriculum to train university students to become Special Olympics coaches, volunteers and leaders. Now, the project has partnered with more than 100 universities, involving more than 20,000 students and teachers.