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Soccer matches for autistic children are held in Shaoxing on March 27. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

The first Rong Ai Stars Cup soccer tournament was held at the Tianma Experimental School in Zhuji, a county-level city in Shaoxing, on March 27, ahead of the 16th World Autism Awareness Day.

The tournament featured six teams from across the city, and each match saw able-bodied children playing alongside those with autism.

The formal diagnostic name is autism spectrum disorder. Children and adults who have autism may not speak at all or have delayed or limited verbal communication. Some people have heavily impaired cognitive thinking.

According to official data, there are currently over 10 million people with autism in China, of which 2 million are children.

"It was difficult for my child to participate in such group activities, but through rehabilitation and the inclusive atmosphere of this event, my child has gradually adapted to noisy and changing environments and is able to play happily," said one parent attending the event.

Rong Ai Stars, a company dedicated to helping people with disabilities, established the first soccer team for children with autism in September 2020. The team's coach, surnamed Gong, named the team "Stars Shine" because he believes that every child is full of potential.

Last May, Rong Ai Stars established the Inclusive Soccer Association to improve the sensory integration, cognitive understanding, social skills, and self-care abilities of children with special needs.