[Special report on the Paralympic Games and Special Olympics]
Demonstrate the equality and dignity of life
Written on the occasion of the opening of the 11th Paralympic Games and the 8th Special Olympics
Guangming Daily reporter Wang Dong
The curtain of the 14th National Games just came to an end not long ago, and another sporting event was launched in the land of Sanqin.
On October 22, more than 4,000 disabled athletes from all over the country gathered in Xi’an and Baoji, Shaanxi Province to participate in the 11th Paralympic Games and the 8th Special Olympics. The Paralympic Games and Special Olympics Games, which have gone through 37 and 34 years respectively, carry the dream of equality, participation, sharing and integration of disabled people across the country. With the theme slogan “Light up dreams and set sail for love”, this Paralympic Games is not only an opportunity for more than 4,000 athletes to create good results, but also an opportunity for them to surpass themselves and realize their dreams, and it is also an opportunity for them to surpass themselves and realize their dreams. An important stage for the show. They will surpass physical defects, challenge themselves and break through their limits through their tenacious struggle on the field, and use practical actions to interpret the Olympic motto of “faster, higher, stronger-more united”.
In China, the number of people with disabilities has reached 85 million, accounting for 6.21% of the total population. Since the reform and opening up, with the great improvement of China’s spiritual and material civilizations, from the central government to all walks of life, they have sympathy for the disabled and their survival. The caring for life has also undergone earth-shaking changes. However, whether people who are born with disabilities or acquired disabilities, after solving the basic survival problems, how to further improve their life happiness index is a topic that the entire society needs to face together.
Let this special group actively participate in physical exercises, not only can enhance their self-confidence, but also allow them to break through barriers and break the barriers between the able-bodied and the handicapped. The Paralympic Games and Special Olympics will undoubtedly greatly increase the opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sports. They are a true manifestation of their right to participate in sports. At the same time, they will also promote the social integration of people with disabilities.
In the Paralympic Games and the Special Olympics Games, the disabled athletes will not only bring us visual impact and shock, but also a valuable spiritual treasure—they use their beautiful hearts to repair the broken ones. The body touches everyone with a healthy and optimistic attitude and a sportsmanship that constantly surpasses oneself.
Fan Quanxi, a member of the Shaanxi wheelchair basketball team who participated in the Sixth Paralympic Games, once told reporters: “No one wants to be forgotten. Over the years, I have witnessed many disabled companions, through participating in sports, step by step away from themselves. Came out of the world and achieved extraordinary results in various fields.”
Fan Quanxi’s aspirations represent the aspirations of all disabled athletes.
Through the Paralympics, we can see that even though they have disabilities, they are still fighting hard, sweating, and energetic on the field; we can also hear that behind every achievement they have achieved, they have paid This is an unimaginable effort that is more than usual; we can also feel that they have demonstrated the tenacious will and fighting spirit of “no matter how strong the wind blows, life will never give up”.
The stage of the Paralympic Games will uphold the concept of “equality, participation, and sharing” in a modern civilized society for persons with disabilities, promote the tenacious and hard-working and courageous sportsmanship for the disabled, and demonstrate the self-reliant, optimistic and progressive spirit of the disabled. New developments in sports for the disabled and new achievements in people’s livelihood in China.
The Paralympic Games is a huge stage for the disabled in our country to show themselves and enrich their lives; the Paralympic Games is also a mirror, reflecting the temperature and happiness of society. Like the continuous development and growth of China’s undertakings for persons with disabilities, the undertaking of sports for persons with disabilities came into being with the reform and opening up. It has undergone a process from scratch, from weak to strong, and has achieved extraordinary achievements. Paralympic Games and Special Olympics Games On this basis, the tenth and seventh sessions have been successfully held. Especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to sports work including sports for the disabled, and made a series of new deployments for the development of sports from a national strategic perspective, and put forward a series of new requirements.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has made historic achievements in the cause of the disabled. The social security system for the disabled has been continuously improved, the level of health and rehabilitation treatment has been significantly improved, and solid steps have been taken in employment assistance for the disabled. Today, more and more of the 85 million disabled people across the country are participating in sports activities, which marks the vigorous development of sports for the disabled in China.
At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, which closed at the beginning of September this year, the Chinese Paralympic Sports Delegation won 96 gold medals, 60 silver medals, and 51 bronze medals after 12 days and nights of fighting, and achieved the gold medal list and medals for the fifth time in a row. The list is “double first”.
At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, 251 Chinese Paralympic athletes sweated and spurred their enthusiasm, dedicated a wonderful game, set a scene of exciting moments, let the world see the Chinese disabled people’s self-improvement style: no arms The swimmers raised three five-star red flags at the same time several times, the blind female trapeze created another success with the lead runners, the wheelchair players swung and beat and won the championship consecutively, and the football players went forward bravely in the dark…
The brilliance created by China’s disabled athletes does not only occur in Tokyo. In the past five years alone, Chinese disabled athletes have won 1,114 gold medals in 160 international events.
The dazzling performance of Chinese disabled athletes in international competitions is a microcosm of the vigorous development of China’s disabled sports.
This Paralympic Games is the first comprehensive sports meeting for the disabled with the highest specifications and the highest level in China, and the strongest radiation driving effect to be hosted by Shaanxi. Just like the theme slogan of this year’s Paralympic Games “Light up dreams and set sail for love”, the Paralympic Games must not only reflect the care and love of the whole society for the disabled, but also show the spirit of self-esteem, self-confidence, self-reliance, and independence of disabled athletes. Highlight the quality of self-improvement and hard work of the disabled.
We believe that this Paralympic Games will become an important opportunity to fully demonstrate the new development of sports for the disabled and the new achievements of people’s livelihood in China, and encourage the whole society to create a friendly atmosphere that cares for the disabled and demonstrates life. Equality and integration.