Chen Xinguang: The Beijing Winter Paralympics showcases the brilliant achievements of China’s disabled sports in the new era
The Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games, which opened on March 4, 2022, is another global sports event for the disabled held in China following the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. It will also usher in new development opportunities, which will surely promote the international disabled sports to “together to the future”.
The development of sports for the disabled is a vivid portrayal of the development and progress of China’s human rights cause
Sports for the disabled focuses on participation, and is an effective way for the disabled to enhance their physique, recover physically and mentally, participate in society, and achieve all-round development. This is a unique channel for people to recognize the potential and value of persons with disabilities and promote harmonious social progress. It is also an important right of persons with disabilities and an important part of human rights protection. On March 3, 2022, the State Council Information Office issued a white paper titled “Development of Sports for Persons with Disabilities in China and Protection of Rights”, giving a comprehensive introduction to the world that my country’s development promotes the progress of sports for persons with disabilities, the extensive development of mass sports activities for persons with disabilities, and the level of competitive sports for persons with disabilities. Continuously improving and contributing to the world’s sports for the disabled, the sports for the disabled shows the development and progress of China’s human rights cause, and fully demonstrates China’s determination and actions to develop the sports for the disabled and protect the rights of the disabled.
The vigorous development of sports for disabled people in China not only reflects the sports spirit and strength of disabled people, but also reflects the achievements of Chinese-style human rights and national development. In the new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, insist on helping the weak, guarantee the equal rights of the disabled, improve the livelihood and well-being of the disabled, and improve the self-development ability of the disabled. Earnestly respect and protect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities, including the right of persons with disabilities to participate in sports, promote the modernization of the cause of persons with disabilities, and continuously satisfy the aspirations of the majority of persons with disabilities for a better life.
Completion of barrier-free facilities in competition venues and Winter Paralympic Village
“Double Olympic City” Beijing, from 2019 to 2021, organizes and implements a special campaign for barrier-free environment construction, rectifies over 210,000 barrier-free facilities occupancy and idle problems, and carefully builds 100 “barrier-free boutique demonstration blocks” and 100 “moment” Zhong barrier-free and convenient service circle”. In Zhangjiakou, from 2018 to July 2021, more than 350 kilometers of blind roads and 4,422 edge-to-stone ramps have been built or renovated, providing a more convenient environment for disabled people to travel. Through years of efforts, the coverage of barrier-free environment construction has continued to expand. Focusing on disabled athletes and starting from every detail, the barrier-free facilities in the Paralympic Winter Games venues and Winter Paralympic Villages have been well-received, providing a safe and convenient environment for hosting the Games. American athlete Taylor Carter, who came to the Beijing Winter Paralympics, said. “The hardware facilities and barrier-free facilities here are the best in the Winter Paralympic Games I have participated in.” Nikki, the coach of the Dutch delegation’s alpine ski team, was full of praise for the National Alpine Ski Center. International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons accepted an exclusive interview with China Central Television. He praised the preparations for the Paralympic Winter Games. The barrier-free facilities in the venues of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games are top-notch, and more than 300,000 barrier-free facilities have been set up outside the venues. The improvement of the barrier-free environment will help China has left a precious Olympic legacy.
The care and warmth of the Beijing Winter Paralympics is also the epitome of the continuous improvement of the social barrier-free environment. After more than 6 years of preparation, from the stadium to the society, the barrier-free facilities are more convenient, and the spirit of helping the disabled is more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. During the design and construction of the venues for this Winter Paralympic Games, the realization of a barrier-free environment was fully considered, which greatly reduced the workload during the transition period and improved work efficiency. Serving disabled athletes is not only implemented in specific actions, but also requires systematic documentation and guidelines. During the preparations for this Winter Paralympic Games, relevant parties have formulated documents such as the “Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympic Games Accessibility Guidelines” and “Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympic Games Knowledge Handbook on Services for Persons with Disabilities”. , to protect the interests of disabled athletes in an all-round and high-standard manner. In his speech at the opening ceremony, IPC President Parsons highly praised the preparations for the Beijing Winter Paralympics and thanked the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee for their great efforts. He praised the unique facilities of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games venues, strict and meticulous event guarantees, safe and efficient epidemic prevention and control, and the warm hospitality of the Chinese people, which have built a stage for athletes from different countries (regions) to fully demonstrate the charm of Paralympic sports.
Work hard, surpass yourself, and go to the future together
Before 2015, among the six major events of the Winter Paralympic Games, my country only carried out two major events: Paralympic cross-country skiing and wheelchair curling. At the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics 4 years ago, the Chinese team won the gold medal in the wheelchair curling event. After years of hard work, the number of Chinese Winter Paralympic athletes has grown from less than 50 to nearly 1,000, and the number of Winter Paralympic events has been expanded from 2 to 6, achieving full coverage of my country’s Winter Paralympic events. In recent years, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation has issued the “Winter Paralympic Project Revitalization Plan”, “Winter Paralympic Glory Action Plan” and “Public Ice and Snow Action Plan for the Disabled” to vigorously promote the development of the Winter Paralympic Movement across the country. More and more disabled people are walking on ice and snow to enjoy the joy brought by sports. Since 2016, the National “Disabled Ice and Snow Sports Season” has been held for six consecutive years. From the first session, only 14 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) with disabilities participated, and now 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) have participated, which has basically covered the whole country. According to incomplete statistics, there are 300,000 disabled people participating in ice and snow sports every year. This is the best testimony to driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports, and it is also a true explanation of “disabled people can live a wonderful life”!
As Chinese disabled sports go global, China is playing an increasingly important role in international disabled sports affairs. From the successful hosting of the Beijing Far South Games and the Guangzhou Asian Paralympic Games, to the successful hosting of the Shanghai Special Olympics, the high-level hosting of the Beijing Paralympic Games and the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games, an open China has fully participated in international disabled sports affairs, and has effectively It has promoted the development of the cause of the disabled in China. On September 5, 2021, at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Chinese athletes performed valiantly, achieving five consecutive championships that doubled in the gold medal list and medal list. According to statistics, during the “13th Five-Year Plan” period, the Chinese disabled sports delegation participated in 160 international events and won 1,114 gold medals. The Chinese Paralympic delegation has topped the gold medal list and the medal list for five consecutive times in the past five Paralympic Games, making outstanding contributions to the development of international disabled sports. This time, China has also sent the Paralympic delegation with the largest scale, the largest number of athletes and the most complete participating items since the Paralympic Winter Games. 85 of the 96 Chinese athletes participated in the Winter Paralympics for the first time. Zhang Haidi, chairman of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation and executive chairman of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, said that “Xue Rongrong”, the mascot of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, has taken over the baton from “Bing Dun Dun” and is looking forward to the disabled athletes to show on the field. The Paralympic values of “courage, determination, motivation, and equality”, together to write a touching chapter of not being afraid of difficulties, working hard, and surpassing ourselves, and looking forward to the future together.
Chen Xinguang, Invited Researcher of Think Tank for Globalization (CCG)
Adjunct Professor, School of Economics, Shanghai University
March 6, 2022
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