【Authoritative Interview】
Guangming Daily reporter Zhang Sheng
Editor’s note
The development of sports for the disabled is of great significance to safeguarding the equal rights of the disabled, promoting the integrated development of the disabled, and promoting the disabled to share the fruits of economic and social development. At this very moment, the Beijing Winter Paralympics are underway. Contrasted with the hard work of the athletes on the field, it is the self-improvement figure of Chinese disabled people in the new era, and it is a sincere answer sheet written by the development of China’s disabled career.
How to understand the significance and practical impact of the Beijing Winter Paralympics? How to make the lives of disabled friends more convenient and happier on and off the field? We invite experts and scholars to have a dialogue on this.
Guests of this issue
Yang Yiyong, Researcher, China Academy of Macroeconomics
Gao Herong, Director of the China Disabled Persons Development Center, Xiamen University
Yang Lixiong, Deputy Dean of the Institute for the Development of Disabled Persons, Renmin University of China
Yang Yiyong Portrait: Painted by Lu Chongguang
Gao Herong Portrait: Lu Chongguang
Yang Lixiong Portrait: Painted by Lu Chongguang
Guo Yujie of China won the Paralympic Biathlon Women’s Short Distance (Stance) at the Beijing Winter Paralympics.Xinhua News Agency
On March 7, Chinese athletes swept the top four in the UL level of the Paralympic Snowboard Men’s Obstacle Chase at the Beijing Winter Paralympics. The picture shows the champion Ji Lijia (left) and the runner-up Wang Pengyao in the game.Xinhua News Agency
1. Actively fulfill the promise of “two Olympic Games are equally exciting”
Reporter: What is your impression of the ongoing Beijing Winter Paralympics? In your opinion, what specific performance should a wonderful Winter Paralympics show?
Yang Yiyong:I have noticed that from the closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics to the opening of the Beijing Winter Paralympics, we have completed the transformation of venue facilities, competition organization, event services, landscape signs, official website matrix, etc. in just ten days. The facilities and attentive service welcome guests from all over the world. It is with such speed and sincerity that we fulfilled our promise of “two Olympic Games, equally exciting”, and strived to dedicate a high-level and distinctive Winter Paralympic Games to the world.
Not long ago, the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics has made the concept of “green, shared, open and honest” deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the efficient and safe service of the Games has won praises from all over the world. During the preparation and hosting of the Beijing Winter Paralympics, these Olympic concepts have been well implemented. For example, the Beijing and Zhangjiakou competition areas make full use of high-tech in energy, transportation, 5G and other fields, combine green technology with sports, and create a green, low-carbon and sustainable event, which not only fully demonstrates my country’s scientific and technological strength And the latest achievements of green and low-carbon development, and expressed to the world my country’s firm determination to deal with global climate change.
Gao Herong:General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to strengthen organizational leadership, coordinate and advance various tasks, and ensure that the Beijing Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics will be turned into a wonderful, extraordinary and outstanding Olympic event. The right to participate in sports activities is an important part of the full realization of the right to subsistence and development for the disabled. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, my country has achieved historic achievements in sports for the disabled. Disabled athletes have won glory for the country with their unremitting self-improvement and tenacious struggle, and inspired the society with their indomitable, optimistic and enterprising spirit of the times.
A wonderful Winter Paralympics is inseparable from the inheritance and promotion of culture. Through the stage of the Beijing Winter Paralympics, we should spread the value pursuit of helping each other and the weak in Chinese culture, pass on the spiritual elements of solidarity, harmony and tolerance, and fully demonstrate the self-reliance and struggle of disabled athletes. The mental outlook and the will to constantly break through the self and challenge the limit make more people pay attention to and understand the disabled and disabled sports.
Yang Lixiong:Sports is an important way for disabled people to recover physically and mentally, and it is also an important channel for disabled people to participate and integrate into society. Since 2016, my country has held the “Disabled Persons’ Ice and Snow Sports Season” for six consecutive years to build a platform for the disabled to participate in ice and snow sports, and to drive the disabled on the stage of “300 million people participating in ice and snow sports“. All regions hold winter sports activities for disabled people according to local conditions, and carry out various forms and content-rich activities such as winter Paralympic event experience, popular ice and snow sports events, winter rehabilitation fitness training camps, and ice and snow carnivals. Through sports activities, the rights of disabled persons to participate in social life on an equal basis are better guaranteed. It can be said that the preparation and holding of the Beijing Winter Paralympics has enhanced the identification of disabled persons with themselves, and promoted equal participation and integrated development of disabled persons, which is a valuable spiritual wealth.
A wonderful Winter Paralympic Games requires extensive participation of the society. We are delighted to see that the public actively signed up as volunteers for the Winter Paralympic Games. Through face-to-face services, these volunteers have a deeper understanding of the disabled; The social atmosphere of the disabled is stronger.
2. Share the great glory of the country’s prosperity and strength
Reporter: On and off the field, what efforts have we made to protect the equal rights and interests of the disabled and let them enjoy sports fun and a happy life?
Gao Herong:In 2008, we held the Beijing Paralympic Games at a high level, leaving a rich legacy in sports facilities, urban transportation, barrier-free environment construction, volunteer services, etc., which strongly promoted the development of the cause of the disabled in China. On January 4 this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Beijing Winter Olympic Village for inspection. One of the details that made me unforgettable is that in the model room for disabled athletes, a convenient barrier-free facility was praised by the general secretary. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “In order to provide athletes with convenient, fast, accurate and meticulous services in order to meet the needs of athletes, especially for the special needs of disabled athletes, relevant barrier-free facilities should be added.” We have seen that the permanent facilities and temporary buildings of the competition venues strive to achieve barrier-free access and use.
Outside the arena, my country has also achieved important results in the protection of the rights and lives of the disabled. A basic database of disabled population covering all disabled persons with certificates has been established; all regions have increased the construction and renovation of barrier-free facilities. During the “13th Five-Year Plan” period, 650,000 poor and severely disabled families have implemented barrier-free reconstruction and information barrier-free construction. The pace has been accelerated, and the daily travel and information exchange of the disabled have become more convenient; a series of laws and regulations on the protection of the rights and interests of the disabled have been promulgated one after another, and the level of public services for the disabled has been greatly improved.
Yang Lixiong:In recent years, my country has taken sports for the disabled as an important part of the national strategy to implement national fitness and build a healthy China and a sports power. The content of activities has been enriched, scientific research and education have been strengthened, and mass rehabilitation, fitness and sports activities for the disabled have become increasingly active. At the same time, my country has intensified the construction of sports facilities and strengthened the construction of the public service system for the disabled. Promote the opening of public sports facilities to the disabled free of charge, invest in the construction of national ice sports training and competition halls for the disabled, and build training venues for disabled athletes in all provinces; focus on supporting economically underdeveloped areas, townships, and rural areas to build services for disabled winter fitness activities site. Speed up the process of building a barrier-free environment in cities. Since 2019, Beijing has implemented a special campaign for barrier-free environment construction, and identified 17 key tasks in key areas such as urban road rectification, public transportation, public service venues, and information exchange. A total of 336,000 points have been reconstructed, basically realizing the core functions of the capital. District barrier-free, and the standardization, applicability and systematization of urban barrier-free environment have been significantly improved.
Yang Yiyong:Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has always upheld full respect and affirmation of the main role and ability of persons with disabilities, emphasizing that “the disabled are equal members of the big social family, an important force for the development of human civilization, and an important force for the development of human civilization. and an important force in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Guide the whole society to correctly understand and treat people with disabilities, and encourage the majority of people with disabilities to pursue progress in adversity, create happiness in the midst of disability, and continuously release the brilliance of life.
The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China integrated the strengthening of disability rehabilitation services into the strengthening of the social security system. Specific arrangements have been made for high-quality development. The National Human Rights Action Plan (2021-2025) proposes equal protection and special assistance measures for the rights and interests of persons with disabilities. Local party committees and governments at all levels and relevant departments have jointly managed and promoted implementation, ensuring the realization of the rights and interests of persons with disabilities.
With the joint efforts of all sectors of society, my country’s 85 million disabled people, as equal members of the big social family, are sharing the great glory of national prosperity with the people of the whole country.
3. Continue to satisfy the yearning of the disabled for a better life
Reporter: What changes will the holding of the Beijing Winter Paralympics bring to the development of sports for the disabled in my country? What kind of inspiration does it bring to the world?
Gao Herong:Sports for the disabled is a mirror that reflects the living standard and human rights situation of the disabled. This Winter Paralympic Games is conveying our barrier-free concepts, strategies and actions to the world with the best attitude. For example, in Zhangjiakou, thanks to the East Wind of the Winter Paralympics, the construction and improvement of the city’s blind lanes, barrier-free ramps, and toilet handrails encourages more disabled people to go out of their homes, enter the ice rink and snow rink, and share the passion for sports. and fun.
The improvement of the quality and temperature of the city where the competition is held will not only benefit local residents, but also play an exemplary role and provide a reference for other regions. The holding of the Beijing Winter Paralympics will make the concept of accessibility more widely recognized, and all sectors of society will pay more attention to and support the work of the disabled.
Yang Lixiong:Sports is an important way to improve people’s health and an important means to satisfy people’s yearning for a better life. Participating in sports activities for the disabled can help to improve physical function, reduce and eliminate functional impairment, enhance independent living ability, satisfy interests and hobbies, increase social interaction, improve life quality, and realize life value. At the same time, sports activities for the disabled have effectively strengthened the social atmosphere that guarantees the inherent dignity and equal rights of the disabled, and vigorously promoted the progress of social civilization.
In recent years, my country has vigorously developed the cause of the disabled, and promoted the development of various undertakings including sports for the disabled. Sports for the disabled is a vivid portrayal of the development and progress of my country’s human rights cause. With the improvement of people’s living standards and the gradual improvement of social security, disabled people’s yearning for a better life has become stronger and stronger, and their enthusiasm for participating in sports activities has increased rapidly. The holding of the Beijing Winter Paralympics will further enhance the willingness of disabled people to participate in sports, and will further enhance the awareness of disabled sports from all walks of life. This also enlightens the world: the protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities should not remain in the text, but should be reflected in practice.
Yang Yiyong:At present, the employment situation of the disabled in our country continues to improve, and more and more disabled people are working hard and making contributions to building a modern socialist country in an all-round way. The rapid development of various undertakings, including sports for the disabled, is a vivid manifestation of the party and the state’s efforts to benefit the disabled, reflects the significant advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and demonstrates my country’s great achievements in human rights protection and national development.
Taking the opportunity of the Beijing Winter Paralympics, my country’s disabled sports ushered in new development opportunities, which will surely promote the international disabled sports “towards the future together”. On the new journey, we must continue to adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, earnestly respect and protect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities, and continuously satisfy the aspirations of the majority of persons with disabilities for a better life.
From 2015 to 2021, the number of major Winter Paralympic events nationwide has expanded from 2 to 6; the number of athletes has grown from less than 50 to nearly 1,000, and the number of technical officials has grown from zero to more than 100.
Since 2016, my country has held the “Snow Sports Season for Disabled Persons” for six consecutive years to build a platform for disabled people to participate in ice and snow sports.
As of 2020, a total of 10,675 fitness demonstration sites for the disabled in my country have been built, a total of 125,000 social sports instructors for the disabled have been trained and developed, and 434,000 severely disabled families have been provided with rehabilitation sports into their families and other services.
(Data source: White Paper on “Development of Sports for the Disabled in China and Protection of Rights”)
Project team: Guangming Daily reporter Zhang Sheng, An Shenglan
“Guangming Daily” (page 10 on March 9, 2022)
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