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Update: The Results!

I've just come back from Shanghai two days ago. I came back with a silver medal after we lost to Australia 31-24 in a classic final at Shanghai Jiatong Arena where the men have been playing.

Take a look at Lee's photographs of his time in Shanghai...

It was my first time playing at a world games competition, I was a little bit nervous to start, it was my debut.

I played four matches out of seven. I really enjoyed playing in Shanghai at some of the new venues, the best one was Shanghai Jiatong Arena, which holds 15,000 people.

We pushed them all the way in the final, but we were trailing at half time 18-2 to Australia.

Then we had a brilliant second half performance thanks to some three point shooting from Scotland's Cameron Robertson, which kept us in touch of them, but we he had controversy as well.

Barry Mcfarline had a two point basket disallowed for a double dribble and the Australian team complained about it.

When the final whistle went all the GB Players were very proud of getting their first Silver Medal at the Special Olympics World Games.

Also Cameron Robertson became the first GB Player to score 19 three-pointers at the world games.

Our team was six players from Scotland, three from the West Midlands and one from the East Midlands (that's me).

The GB Ladies Team lost 16-9 in the semi final against Tunisia.

The best coaches of the tournament were Craig Fulton and Steven Turner from Scotland - they have done GB proud.

Next time it will be Leicester 2009!

Update: 72 hours to go

It's 72 Hours before I go to Heathrow Airport and the Team GB Squad are very excited about going as there are only five people from the East Midlands plus myself,听who will be taking part in the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai.

This Tuesday, my fingers are crossed, we might see Richard Branson at the Park Inn Hotel in London, which is next door to Heathrow Airport.

The television stations are flying out with us - 成人论坛 TV Crews, 成人论坛 Radio Scotland and ITV Regions. They will be sending cameras out to Shanghai so that too is very exciting indeed.

ITV Central East will be following me and Rachael Jarvis all the way in Shanghai and 成人论坛 Sport will show some action from China of the games.

Keith Wilcox Team GB Manager and Jane Moncreiff Assistant Manager are both very excited of leading our country to China for the World Games.

I've got all of my new kit now and raring to go. I've had loads of good luck cards from friends and family and a big card from Angela Morley, Chairman of East Midlands Special Olympics.

She's wishing me and all of the other athletics from our region the best luck - she is our number one chairman of East Midlands.

Update: September 2007

Went for my training weekend in Glasgow, Scotland on Friday. I had a great weekend up in Scotland, we had training all day Saturday, plus 2 warm up matches.

Cameron Robertson was named man of the match in our two warm-up games.

The team stayed at the Arygle Hotel near to Kelvin Hall - the food was very nice.

We went ten-pin bowling on Saturday night in Glasgow city centre and we had free pizza and chips from Dominos pizza.

Special Olympics line-ups announced

The mens' and the ladies' team line ups have been announced.

For the men, Craig Fulton and Steven Turner will take charge of Team GB, with Bryan Curdie as Captain.听

For the ladies, Maureen McNeil will take charge, with Lauren McTaggert and Joan Breaton as Assistant Coaches, and Leanne Wolfe as Captain.

Three weeks until Shanghai

It's three weeks to go now before I go to Shanghai.

I'm really looking forward to going for this big trip of a lifetime.

Fingers crossed that I, and Team GB, will do well in The Special Olympics World Games.

July 2007

I went to Manchester for my training weekend away on 08 June. The Great Britain Basketball Squad stopped at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Runcorn.

The following day on the Saturday I had a big surprise from Keith Wilcox's assistant, Jane Moncrieff, she called me down stairs for a meeting and she said to me do you fancy going to the Gala Dinner at the Midland Hotel and to speak in front of 500 people?

I was a bit shocked when she gave me the good news, I did it with my East Midlands Collegue Fleur O'Donogue who does horse riding.

When I arrived there I met Karen Walin, Operations Manager of the Special Olympics, and her assistant, Jane Silverman - she sat on the table next to me at the gala dinner.

It was fantastic, I met the Chairman of Special Olympics; Lawrie McMenemy, the ex-Southampton Manager; the new Basketball Ambassador of my sport; ex-Leicester Riders Player, Delme Herriman; ex-Coronation Street star Roy Barraclough; and I saw Darren Campbell, who does athletics, and Mark Cox, a former tennis player.

It was a very good night, I didn't leave the hotel 'til 00:15, I didn't get to bed 'til 02:00, it was nice meeting all the celebrities at the dinner.

I would like to thank my basketball coach, Maureen McNeil, Craig Fulton and Steven Turner for putting my name forward for the wonderful night I had at the Midland Hotel.

I've had some donations since I arrived back from Mancheter on 10 June, my old school,听Ellesmere College in Leicester, sponsored me for my trip to Shanghai. I would like to thank Paul Edwards, Lisa Pittwood and the rest of the staff for helping to give me this dream come true. I am going to do my best and come back with a medal.

I have raised 拢2,030 thorough doing the sponsored swim, selling plants and my friends and family. Also my friend, Rachel Jarvis, has raised a grand total of 拢2,800.

It's only 11 Weeks to go now until I go down to Heaththrow Airport. I am very excited about flying for the first time.

Thank you 成人论坛 Radio Leicester for helping me and for doing this article for the website.

Update: February 2007

It all started in October 2006. On my weekend away to Middlesbrough four months ago I met my new team mates for the first time - six from Scotland West and three from the West Midlands.

Everyone in the team was shocked. The Ladies Coach didn't turn up either so Lauren McTaggart took charge, and the men were lead by Steven Turner and Craig Fulton. They are very good coaches, the best ones I have ever had.

The following day we had training at one of the leisure centres in Middlesbrough. It was a very nice place and at night we had a disco at one of the hotels. It was very good and we all had our photos done.

On the Sunday before I went home we watched a video promo of Shanghai - it was fantastic. Keith Wilcox and his assistant, Jane Moncrieff, did a very good speech too. They showed us a preview of all of the venues where we will be playing in China. The stadium I'm going to in Shanghai holds 100,000 people.听

Three months later I had an email from Andy Heffer, Director of Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB), to say I've got a new coach now for the Men's team. Her name is Maureen McNeil and she's from Scotland West.

I'm really looking forward to meeting her for the first time, and my assistant coaches will still be Craig Fulton and Steven Turner.

I will be travelling to London on 25 September and I fly out on 26 September. I don't come back 'til 14 October 14 and there's a good chance that the games will be shown on 成人论坛 Television.

Since I had the interview on 成人论坛 Radio Leicester in October 2006 I've raised 拢540 and my friend, Rachel Jarvis, has raised 拢1500.

Read Lee's story from the beginning...

If you would like to sponsor Lee or if you're interested in joining his basketball club, please contact Mr R Sharpe, 1 Oxford Road, Desford, Leicestershire, LE9 9JN.