Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 12th.Topic: Deep Cultivation in Full Bloom——Seeing the Development of Sports for the Disabled in China from the Beijing Winter Paralympics
Xinhua News Agency reporters Ma Kai and Liu Bo
Like spring flowers in full bloom, in the Beijing Winter Paralympics, there were frequent reports of good news from the Chinese sports delegation, with the number of gold medals and medals topping the list. Chinese disabled athletes surpass themselves and create history in full bloom again and again, which is a portrayal of the era when China promotes the all-round development of disabled people and promotes the vigorous development of disabled sports.
From thriving to full blooming, the level of disabled competitive sports has been significantly improved
At the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics, the Chinese sports delegation participated in 2 of the 6 major events. In the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games, the Chinese wheelchair curling team achieved a historic breakthrough and won the first gold medal in the history of the Chinese Winter Paralympic Games. This is also the only medal the Chinese team has won in the previous five Winter Paralympics.
Four years later, the Chinese wheelchair curling team defeated the Swedish team 8:3 in the final and successfully defended their title at home. This time, their gold win is no longer a standout. As of the 12th, the Chinese sports delegation has won a total of 59 medals with 18 golds, 18 silvers and 23 bronzes, all of which are the highest among all participating countries (regions).
The history of China’s participation in the Winter Paralympics is being rewritten in an impressive way. Chinese athletes Ji Lijia, Wang Pengyao, Zhu Yonggang and Zhang Yiqi stood out from the 18 contestants in the UL-level Paralympic Snowboard Men’s Obstacle Chase competition on the 7th, taking the first, second, third and third places.
On the snowy surface of Genting, the picture of the five-starred red flags unfolding at the same time will forever remain in the history of the Winter Paralympics. Behind this honor is the hard work and sweat of the disabled athletes for several years.
The “phenomenal” transformation from thriving to full bloom is inseparable from the full guarantee provided by China to improve the level of competitive sports for the disabled. The National Disabled Ice Sports Competition Training Hall not only provides a high-standard competition training environment for disabled athletes, but also has a full-plane ground design with no height difference, which reflects the consideration of the actual needs of the disabled in every corner. It is called “the best gift” by many disabled athletes.
Drive 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports and carry out extensive mass sports activities for the disabled
During the bidding process for the Beijing Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympics, China put forward the goal of “driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports“. Over the years, able-bodied and disabled people in China have encouraged each other and worked hand in hand to achieve this ambitious goal before the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Wang Meimei, vice chairman of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, introduced that since 2016, China has held the “Disabled Persons’ Ice and Snow Sports Season” for six consecutive years to build a platform for disabled people to participate in ice and snow sports. Winter sports activities for disabled people are held in various regions according to local conditions. Novel and interesting popular ice and snow sports such as mini skiing, dryland skiing, ice skating, sledding and sledding are very popular among disabled people.
Yanwen, a young Dai nationality living in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, has never seen snow when he was a child. Thanks to the promotion of ice and snow sports, he has gradually grown into a member of the national team after he started to get in touch with snowboarding in 2016. In this Winter Paralympics Paralympic Snowboard Men’s Slope Slalom LL2 competition, this young skier from the tropical rain forest ranked 12th, realizing his dream of “being able to participate in the Winter Paralympic skiing competition”.
Zhao Weidong, a spokesman for the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, said that since the opening of the “Snow Sports Season for Disabled Persons”, the number of participating provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities has increased from 14 to 31, and the number of direct participants has increased from 10,000 to 30. Thousands of people. In addition, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation has held a national winter social sports instructor training camp for disabled persons since 2017, and has trained tens of thousands of people so far.
The construction of a barrier-free environment is admirable, and the protection of the rights and interests of the disabled has been continuously strengthened
Barrier-free seats, elevators, toilets and other facilities are readily available. Details such as the addition of anti-skid facilities and the elimination of slight height differences can be seen everywhere. Simultaneous interpretation, wheelchair push and other services are never lacking… Since the opening of the Beijing Winter Paralympics, we have carefully created The barrier-free environment of the International Paralympic Committee has been praised by officials of the International Paralympic Committee, athletes and staff of various countries (regions).
“In previous Paralympic Winter Games, the accessibility of alpine skiing venues is often the most challenging, and the alpine skiing venues of this Winter Paralympic Games are amazing.” Iliana Rodri, accessibility expert of the International Paralympic Committee Gus said after visiting the Beijing Winter Paralympics alpine skiing venue. Here, the ski tracks at the end of the game are paved with wooden boards and anti-skid pads, which are convenient for wheelchairs to pass; the media center is equipped with wheelchair reporters with adjustable table heights; athletes with lower limb disabilities can also wear ski equipment and ride the gondola directly, saving a lot of time. .
The Beijing Winter Paralympics is a microcosm of China’s efforts to create a barrier-free environment. According to Guo Liqun, spokesperson of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, 81% of the entrances and exits, 56% of the service counters and 38% of the toilets in the comprehensive service facilities of villages (communities) nationwide have been constructed and renovated without barriers; in terms of barrier-free travel and service environment , 3598 groups of trains are equipped with special seats for the disabled, and city buses are equipped with on-board screens and voice announcement systems; the supply of barrier-free information terminal products is also increasing.
The Beijing Winter Paralympics is a mirror that reflects the vigorous development of sports for the disabled in China, as well as the fact that the rights to subsistence and development of the disabled in China are effectively protected. Yang Shuan, vice-chairman of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, said: “With economic and social development, there are more conditions to care for and support disabled people’s sports, and disabled people are very self-improving. Combining various factors, there is no doubt that We were successful.”
Deep ploughing of fertile soil will bring flowers. China’s disabled sports cause has entered a new spring and will be in full bloom in the future.
Edit: Empty Ming