Promotion of sports beneficial to people with disabilities

From promoting social awareness to building more accessible infrastructure, the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games have facilitated the development of projects that will help people with disabilities live more fulfilling lives, said Zhang Haidi, chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation.

During a meeting on March 6 with national political advisers on agriculture, welfare and social security, during the annual two sessions, President Xi Jinping said that when it comes to the people's well-being, no matter is trivial. He added that it is important to pay extra attention to and care for people living in difficult circumstances and to help them solve their problems.

Zhang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told China Daily that the Winter Paralympics have encouraged more people with disabilities to engage in sports, and that this makes them healthier, happier and more included in society.

When China was preparing to bid for the 2022 Winter Games, it had fewer than 50 trained athletes for the Paralympics, she said. Now the roster has grown to over 1,000, covering all six sports from Para Snowboard to Para Alpine Skiing.

"I remember back in 1984, when our athletes competed in the Paralympic Games for the first time, there were no training facilities for them. Some of them could only practice swimming in the rivers in their hometowns, or practice table tennis on a table made of bricks," Zhang said.

Now, there are 45 training centers for para athletes across China, and a dedicated administrative center for managing para sports, she said. With these state-of-the-art track and field, basketball, swimming and winter sports training facilities, Chinese para athletes can perform well consistently in international events.

Zhang said that she often visited para athletes training for the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, and it was not hard to feel proud and be moved by their efforts.

Some of the winter sports require these athletes to train in low temperatures for hours. "It is an extremely demanding task because of their disabilities. Some of them had lost their arms, legs or eyesight, but they all have a burning desire to achieve sports excellence and show their strength of spirit," she said.

Apart from athletes in the spotlight, there are also many "unsung heroes" behind the scenes, such as coaches and staff members, she said.

Scientists and engineers have built an accessible environment with meticulous attention to details, from designing service counters at the proper height to broadcasting information using sign language supported by artificial intelligence.

"All these designs are meant to serve the para athletes, and I hope these athletes from around the world will feel cozy, comfortable and loved in Beijing, just like being at home," Zhang said.

Today, para sports have become an integral part of work for the disabled in China, she said. "Athletes with disabilities are overcoming the obstacles and are bravely forging new lives. It's a spirit that tells us no obstacle is insurmountable, and the key to success is determination."