SCIO press conference on 'China's Parasports: Progress and the Protection of Rights' white paper
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 11, 2022
China Daily:
The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games is just around the corner. Could you tell us a little about the current preparation status of the Chinese delegation? What expectations do we have for this Paralympic Winter Games? Thank you.
Wang Meimei:
The para ice hockey, para-alpine skiing, para snowboarding, para cross-country skiing, and para biathlon teams of the Chinese delegation for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games checked in into the Paralympic villages in Beijing, Yanqing, and Zhangjiakou, respectively, on February 25. And the wheelchair curling team checked into the Beijing Paralympic village on March 2.
Currently, the athletes in the villages have been training before their competitions, which mainly includes adapting to the venues, getting familiar with the competition streamline, improving the competition plan, and adjusting their psychological state. They are looking forward to the upcoming Games.
Compared with summer Paralympic sports, winter Paralympic sports in China got off to a later start, have a relatively weak foundation and are still improving. At the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, which was held before Beijing's bid to host the Winter Games, China only had 10 athletes participating in two sports and six events. This time, a total of 96 athletes from China are taking part in all six sports and 73 events. Our objectives are:
First, to demonstrate to the world the spirit of perseverance of Chinese people with disabilities in the new era. Paralympians are focused on displaying their spirit. General Secretary Xi Jinping has highly praised the indomitable and hard-working spirit of China's para-athletes. Even though the competitiveness of China's Paralympians is still improving, their spirit in seeking to meet challenges and pursue self-improvement will undoubtedly inspire us to fully demonstrate their sound spirit.
Second, to present China's achievements in developing winter Paralympic sports. General Secretary Xi Jinping has made several important instructions for the preparatory work of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Following the important instructions, the CDPF considered the preparation and competition as a major political task, set up a leading group for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games to guide the preparatory work for the Game. Through six years of concerted efforts of the disabled persons' federations at all levels across the country, we achieved fundamental breakthroughs in our Paralympic winter sports. This year marks China's sixth participation in the Winter Paralympics, featuring its largest-ever delegation and highest-ever number of athletes, who are participating in more categories of sports and events at the Games than ever before.
Third, to strive to achieve good results and win honors for the country. On Feb. 24, General Secretary Xi Jinping wrote a reply to Chinese snowboarder Su Yiming. The Chinese delegation organized its members to study the guiding spirit of the letter in the first place and was determined to follow the spirit to act on the pledge of "keeping the mission in mind and striving together," and to work hard and transcend the self to achieve excellent results and achieve glory for the country.
Thank you.
Beijing Youth Daily:
Just now it was mentioned that equal participation in sports represents an important right for people with disabilities. Can you elaborate on how China has safeguarded equal participation for people with disabilities in sports by law? Thank you.
Lyu Yansong:
First, China has not only included parasports in its national fitness program, Healthy China initiative, and program to build China's strength in sports, but also strengthened equal protection and special assistance for the rights and interests of people with disabilities through legislation, confirming their specific right to participate in sports. Among the regulations, articles 41 to 45 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities stipulates the concrete measures that the government and society should take to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy rights related to culture and sports. Article 16 of the Law on Physical Culture and Sports stipulates that the whole of society should care for people with disabilities and support their participation in sports. All levels of government should take measures to ensure people with disabilities have better access to sporting events. Article 45 also stipulates that public sports facilities should make it convenient for people to conduct sports activities and implement preferential measures for people with disabilities.
Second, the Chinese government has actively promoted the construction of barrier-free environments, and effectively guaranteed the equal participation of people with disabilities in all sports activities. For example, in 2019, Beijing launched a special program to foster a barrier-free environment, focusing on 17 major tasks in key areas such as urban roads, public transport, public service venues, and information exchange. A total of 336,000 facilities and sites have been modified, realizing basic accessibility in the core area of the capital city, making its barrier-free environment more standardized, accommodating and systemic. Zhangjiakou has also actively nurtured a barrier-free environment, leading to a significant improvement in accessibility.
Third, China has continuously improved its public sports service system and vigorously promoted the equal participation of people with disabilities in rich and colorful sports and cultural activities. Both the Law on Guaranteeing Public Cultural Services and the Regulations on the Nationwide Fitness Program require corresponding cultural and sport services be provided according to the physical and mental characteristics and needs of people with disabilities. In the efforts to implement the national fitness program, governments at all levels have innovated service methods and launched extensive rehabilitation and fitness activities for people with disabilities at the grassroots level. To improve the sport service ability, local regions have also established sport instructor teams for people with disabilities, so as to effectively guarantee the right of people with disabilities to enjoy basic public sport services. Thank you.
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