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SCIO press conference on latest progress of 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games preparations and updates on Yanqing and Zhangjiakou competition zones

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China Daily:

There are less than 100 days before the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games opens, and Paralympians from all over the world are looking forward to demonstrating their spirit of self-transcendence and hard work in Beijing, which, by the end of the Games, will have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics. What has the BOCOG done to organize a Paralympic Winter Games as successful as the Winter Olympics? Thank you.

Yang Jinkui:

Let me answer your question. Thank you for your question. Since preparations began, the central government has attached great importance to the work that goes into the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, and asked to integrate the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games into the overall preparations for the Winter Olympics while synchronizing planning and implementation with a same level of professionalism. Specific measures are as follows:

First, establish a plan for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. The plan clearly specifies work objectives, key strategic tasks and supporting measures.

Second, establish a workflow for simultaneous planning and implementation of the Paralympics and Winter Olympics. All departments and posts organize the preparations of the two events simultaneously to ensure that the same systems are in place and the same standards are met, such that they can achieve synchronous preparations for the two events.

Third, efforts have been made to improve inclusive and accessible environments. We also publicize the notion that the accessible environment should not only serve the disabled community but also those who are able-bodied. We have raised the awareness of the need for accessibility at both the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, and established and improved the coordination mechanism for providing accessibility, released a guidebook on accessibility and technical indicators for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, and organized regular venue surveys, inspections and guidance. Currently, barrier-free facilities for the Winter Paralympic Games venues and athletes' villages were completed at the same time as the main part of the venues. The barrier-free flow of main customer groups is clear and smooth, the construction of permanent barrier-free facilities meets all standards, goals of sustainable and humanized construction are clear, and the barrier-free environment of the host cities has been optimized and upgraded.

Fourth, efforts have been made to improve the experience for disabled groups. We have raised and promoted the implementation of key tasks involved in 57 operational areas that address those with special needs. For example, providing accessible vehicles and having contracted hotels offer a portion of accessible rooms or wheelchair-friendly rooms. During the Winter Paralympic Games, there will be news conferences with sign language services and braille publications, barrier-free security channels, special medical and health services, special medicine and devices, maintenance services for wheelchairs and prostheses, and service manuals for our disabled attendees and participants will be provided. We will also strengthen personnel training to provide high-level services for customers with disabilities.

Fifth, we have strengthened cultural promotion and public awareness. We have compiled the "Knowledge of Winter Paralympic Games Competitive Events," and launched six short videos introducing different events of the Winter Paralympics. We have implemented the "Excellence Program" of the IPC, organized preparation training for the Paralympic Games, and released the emblem, mascot, slogan, torch, medals, sports pictograms, clothing, commemorative coins, songs and other cultural products of the Winter Paralympics. We have carried out extensive training on Paralympic concepts, accessibility awareness and skills that can help persons with disabilities. We have endeavored to raise public awareness about the Olympic and the Paralympic spirit and values. On important occasions including the one-year countdown and the 100-day countdown to the Winter Paralympics, International Day of Persons with Disabilities and National Day for Helping the Disabled, we hosted activities and shared comprehensive and in-depth displays and reports on the various stages of preparation, effectively highlighting the Paralympic spirit and inspiring the whole of society to pay attention to, and support the Winter Paralympics.

Through these efforts, we have streamlined the planning and design, facility construction, venue operation, competition organization, service guarantee, cultural promotion, market development, publicity, talent cultivation, heritage arrangements and other aspects of the preparatory work. This has provided fertile conditions for realizing the goal of " Two Games, Equal Splendor." Thank you.