Brussels, 14/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - 57 MEPs have already signed the written declaration set down on Monday 12 January by Greek Socialist Katerina Batzeli, German Green Michael Cramer, German Liberal Silvana Koch-Mehrin, Poles Janusz Lewandowski (EPP-ED) and Janusz Wojciechowski (UEN) on the Special Olympics, which provide sporting and social opportunities to mentally handicapped adults and children. They point out that the Special Olympics put European policies into practice on a daily basis, promoting sport and cross-border voluntary action, combating stereotypes towards handicaps by involving people who might be marginalised from society in social activities. Noting that Europe will host two major events, the European Special Summer Olympics in Warsaw, Poland, in 2010 and the World Special Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, in 2011, they call on the European Commission to support these sporting events. The declaration will be deemed to have been adopted by the European Parliament if it is signed by over half of MEPs before 14 April. (O.J./transl.rt)