B: The Paralympic Games officially kicks off today, with over 4,000 disabled athletes competing for 150 countries and regions.
A: Over the next week and a half, these athletes will compete in 20 sports. Everyone dreams of winning personal honor and national glory. But I don't think the gold medal rush is very important in the Paralympics. The event focuses more on promoting respect and understanding for disabled people worldwide.
B: The Paralympic Games provide a stage for the disabled athletes to showcase their indomitable spirits. They set a good example for everyone, not just for other handicapped people.
A: Absolutely, and here on our program we'd like to express our best wishes to all the Paralympic athletes. I hope they all perform well in their competitions and enjoy their time in Beijing.
B: And one means of ensuring that they have a pleasant stay in Beijing has been the city's construction of handicapped facilities. You know, about half of the athletes are wheelchair-bound so handicapped facilities will be in high demand.
A: Well, I can promise that they have no need to worry about a lack of facilities. Since winning the bid for the Paralympics, Beijing has devoted enormous efforts to upgrading its handicapped facilities, not just for the Paralympians, but for all people who are mobility-impaired.
B: A handicapped network is now in place in Beijing, so people with disabilities will have easy access to sports venues, public transport, hotels, banks, shopping malls, hospitals, tourist sites and many other public places.
A: Among other things, the accessibility of the competition venues is of course the top concern of the Paralympic organizers. BOCOG Executive Vice President Tang Xiaoquan says handicapped facilities at all of the Paralympic venues will be able to meet the demands of disabled athletes and spectators.
"Twenty Olympic competition venues and six training venues will be used during the Paralympic Games. These places, along with the Paralympic Village, have all been equipped with complete handicapped facilities that meet IPC standards. We have done whatever we can to make sure that disabled people will have no trouble at all moving around the Paralympic venues. "
B: Wu Jinggu is the director of the BOCOG Paralympic Village Department. He says Paralympic athletes' comfort was a consideration in every brick and tile of the Paralympic Village.
"The design of the village has been meticulously tailored to meet the special demands of the disabled athletes so they can feel at home. We have paid attention to every detail. For example, the elevator buttons and switches have been lowered; the furnishings in the rooms are all no more than 80 centimeters high; and the doorknobs and drawer pulls are all in a special shape to make them easier for disabled people to use. Of course, the handicapped facilities are accompanied with services from the village staff. Everyone is ready to offer a helping hand. We hope the athletes will feel our care and respect in every tiny detail."
A: Athletes have praised the handicapped facilities and services in the Paralympic Village. Juan Reyes is a disabled swimmer from Mexico.
B: Zhang Zhenpeng is an official with the Bird's Nest. He says the handicapped facilities in the stadium have been tested to meet international standards.
"The Bird's Nest and all of the other Paralympic venues have been transformed into places without barriers. Special ramps for wheelchairs have been installed at the entrances of all buildings. The passages, restrooms and seats have been remodeled to be accessible to disabled spectators. Barrier-free parking lots and wheelchair rental and repair stations have been set up near the entrances. And conspicuous signs and digital voice systems will be used to give directions. We believe the handicapped system will help disabled people move around freely."
A: The handicapped facilities in the Bird's Nest and other Paralympic venues have won rave reviews from IPC President Sir Philip Craven.
B: Handicapped facilities have been also constructed outside the venues to meet the demands of the disabled throughout the city.
A: For people confined to wheelchairs, taking public transport is always a headache. But the problem has been alleviated with the upgrade of handicapped transport facilities.
B: So far, nearly 1,000 special sidewalks with a total length of more than 1,500 kilometers have been laid down for the blind.
A: The city's airport, railway stations and subways have all undergone renovations to become barrier-free. Each of the subway stations on all eight metro lines has at least one entrance and exit that is wheelchair-accessible.
B: To ensure smooth transport for the Paralympics, Beijing has opened 16 special bus routes and prepared 2,000 low-chassis buses for service. An additional 600 handicapped-friendly vehicles will be designated specifically for athletes and officials.
A: The city has also put 70 special taxis which can accommodate wheelchairs on the roads. The rates for the special taxis will be the same as in regular taxis, but the special taxi has the added bonus of door-to-door service through a phone booking system.
B: The setup of a handicapped system has made getting around Beijing much more convenient for disabled people. Now Paralympic athletes, officials and visitors, will have access to some of the most popular tourist attractions in the capital, like the Palace Museum, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall.
A: Sightseeing in these places once posed a big challenge for people with disabilities, since many scenic spots in Beijing feature multiple staircases and high thresholds.
B: But inaccessibility to these attractions is now a problem of the past. Xiong Yumei, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau, explains.
"Handicapped ramps, passages, lifts and other necessary facilities have been installed in all the major tourist destinations in Beijing. It means people with disabilities can have easy access to these attractions without worrying about pothole-filled roads or high thresholds and staircases."
A: Two lifts and a handicapped ramp have been installed at the popular Badaling section of the Great Wall. Now disabled visitors can easily reach the top of this part of the Great Wall.
B: And in the Palace Museum, a series of smooth handicapped passages have been built linking all the main sights in the complex. Elevators have been installed behind the major halls to carry disabled visitors to the top floor.
A: Wei Fulong, an official at the Palace Museum, says that every disabled visitor will receive a free guidebook denoting the locations of the handicapped facilities.
"All of these handicapped measures are aimed to give disabled visitors an equal opportunity to take in Chinese history and culture in the Palace Museum. These facilities won't destroy the view or cause damage to the ancient architecture. We have carefully considered how to protect the buildings while also providing convenient access for our visitors."
B: Over the past few years, Beijing has carried out 6,000 construction projects to fulfill its commitment to build a city without barriers. After an inspection of some of the city's handicapped facilities, IPC President Sir Philip Craven voiced his satisfaction, adding that the facilities will be a vital part of the invaluable legacy the Paralympic Games will leave for China and its people.
A: After the Paralympics, the handicapped facilities will benefit the city's one million handicapped citizens, BOCOG Executive Vice President Tang Xiaoquan says£º
"Spurred by the Paralympics, Beijing's handicapped construction has made a big leap forward. But we won't stop here. Continued efforts will be made in the coming years to further improve the city's barrier-free environment. Removing the barriers will not only make life easier for disabled people, but also give them more opportunities to participate in social activities. This will encourage them to integrate into society instead of isolating themselves at home. At the same time, Beijing will also provide useful experiences for other areas in China in building accessible facilities for the disabled."
B: Like Tang points out, the handicapped facilities have already vastly improved the lifestyles of Beijing's disabled citizens, and now many of them will be able to take part in the Paralympics.
A: Li Caimao is the director of the municipal disabled persons' affairs committee.
"More than 12,000 disabled people applied to become volunteers for the games. About 700 disabled performers are joining in the performances of the opening and closing ceremonies. Another 1,500 handicapped artists will perform at cultural squares around Beijing during the games period. And a large number of disabled craftsmen have joined a program to make gifts for Paralympic guests from abroad. It's estimated that more than 200,000 disabled people will be involved in the games."
B: The disabled people in Beijing are the direct beneficiaries of the handicapped facilities for the Paralympics, and it's wonderful that they can also enjoy being a part of the games.
CRIENGLISH.com claims the copyright of all material and information produced
originally by our staff. All rights reserved. Reproduction of text for non-commercial
purposes only is permitted provided that both the source and author are
acknowledged and a notifying email
is sent to us.
CRIENGLISH.com holds neither liability nor responsibility for materials
attributed to any other source. Such information is provided as reportage
and dissemination of information but does not necessarily reflect the opinion
of or endorsement by CRI.
What makes you happy? A recent survey shows that people feel the happiest when they reach their 60s and 70s. Is it true that we may ignore happiness when we spend all the time looking for it? [China Drive]
Transcend Yourself Transcendence is one of the core concepts of the Paralympics. In your life, have you ever transcended yourself to reach a goal? Have you achieved something that you normally wouldn't be able to do? [China Drive]
