High-profile officials, celebrities and entrepreneurs gave generously at the charity ball Hong Kong media guru Yang Lan threw on Saturday in Shanghai to raise funds for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

A charity auction on the night lasted 3 hours and raised 1.864 million yuan. The highest bid of the night went to a bronze sculpture donated by Yang Lan and her husband, which sold for 230,000 yuan.

A precious calligraphy work created by the late master crosstalker Ma Ji, who passed way last month, also went under the hammer. It raised 60,000 yuan.

As well as a number of items donated by celebrities, a number of intangible "experiences" were also on sale at the auction.Like a dinner with renowned scholar Yu Qiuyu and tickets for the Asian premier of the Turandot opera at the Shanghai Theater.

Yang Lan confirmed all the proceeds from the ball will be placed directly into a special fund for the 2007 Special Olympics.

She also said the organizers have received a number of anonymous donations from ordinary Shanghai residents who could not attend the ball.

Yang Lan's Sun Culture Foundation, the 2007 Special Olympics Committee and the Jiefang Daily Group jointly hosted the charity ball.

The 2007 Special Olympics will kick off in Shanghai in October.

Editor: Donald