Chinese torchbearer Jin Jing, a wheelchair-bound fencer who was forced to shield the flame during the Paris-leg of the Olympic torch relay, has become the ambassador of a Paralympic cheering group launched Tuesday.

The group planned to conduct a series of non-profit activities worldwide until the holding of the Paralympics in Beijing in September to publicize Paralympic sports, according to a press conference jointly held by the Chinese Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the China Commission of Promotion of Publicity for the Undertakings of Chinese Disabled Persons.

Jin Jing said at the conference that as the ambassador of the cheering group, she would passionately promote the unique spirit of the disabled athletes and spread humanitarian concepts.

She called on China to publicize the Beijing Paralympics and boost the morale of their athletes with the same enthusiasm as they put behind the torch relay.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2008)