Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee, visited Beijing late last month to attend the Fifth World Forum on Sport, Education and Culture, as well as the seventh plenary meeting of IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

Craven shared his thoughts on the 2008 Paralympic Games during an interview with China Daily reporter Li Jing. The following are edited excerpts:

 

How do you evaluate the current preparations that BOCOG (the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad) has done for the 13th Paralympic Games? What aspects still have room for improvement?

 

I think what I can say is that of all the organizing committees of Paralympic Games, BOCOG is the best that I know. I would not say "improvements" could be made because that means it is not as good as it could be. I think it is really "developments" that can be made because we are now nearly two years away from the opening ceremony of the Paralympics and therefore many operational aspects remain to be discussed, as well as the legacy and the promotion of the Paralympic Games. BOCOG will get into far more detail from now on.

 

I have very personal contacts with all levels of BOCOG, and I am very happy with Liu Qi, president of BOCOG, and Zhang Qiuping, director of the Paralympics. They are doing a great job.

 

In November last year I was honored to meet your Premier Wen Jiabao. He told me that the Chinese Government and Chinese people will give equal emphasis to both Games. He has a lot of spirit and I believe in him. And I saw that for example, the launch of the mascot Lele on the Great Wall in September and the fact that the Great Wall is now accessible to people with all mobility capabilities are examples of the fact that equal emphasis has been given to both the Games.

 

Beijing is the first time that the organizing committee for both Games is under the new partnership agreement between the IOC and IPC. That is the interesting thing. For example, Beijing will be the first time Paralympians benefit from travel grants as Olympians do. Beijing is the first to really give a strong financial return to the Paralympic Movement from the value of its marketing program.

 

In your opinion, what is the role that sports play in the life of people with disabilities?

 

I would rather use the words of "a person with a perceived disability." That is a very important thing because it's a perception. I use wheels and you use legs. However, if someone with a perceived disability practices sports, what sports can give them is very good self-confidence, a confidence in themselves. If they can be good at sport, they can be good at doing other things as well. People need to feel that they can do something well. Be able to say: "Hi, I'm here. I'm good. I can do this. I can shoot a basketball." That is what sports can give to them.

 

Immediately after I met Premier Wen Jiabao, I told him I was going to play wheel basketball with the Beijing team. So I met Beijing citizens playing wheelchair basketball and they are no different to British players playing wheelchair basketball. If someone does not have a wheelchair and needs one, or lives in a house with stairs, then they cannot have a life because of the disabled house. It is not the person who is disabled but the house. This is where we need changes to open up life for people.

 

As far as I know, some Chinese disabled persons go to gymnastic schools only because it is a shelter where they can escape social discrimination and make a living. What do you think of this situation?

 

It depends whether you look at it negatively or positively. My first reaction is that they have somewhere to go. It is always good to do something. Human beings are normally positive. They can go somewhere where they can be positive. I don't think it is a negative thing. Sports give them more opportunities so that they can go to other places as well. Actually China is not unique in this area. When I first got into the wheelchair I was not good with it. So I did not go out around my house for six months in my wheelchair. But later on I went to a sport club where I felt good. So my experience is the same as the Chinese people that you describe.

 

What do you think of the emblem and the mascot of the Paralympic Games?

 

I think the emblem has a great connection to the land and to the people. I like it because we come from the land. And my favorite color is blue, like the temple of Heaven. I am glad to see the blue in the emblem.

 

On Lele, I think you have a very friendly mascot. Lele looks incredibly friendly and happy. It is both good for children and for adults. But I'm still not sure if it is a girl or a boy. I think it is great that nobody knows.

 

You must be quite familiar with International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge. Would you tell us some stories about your relationship with him?

 

Rogge is a very honest man and a very open man. He knows he needs to be part of the team. He is not just a leader that tells everybody else what to do. He listens very well and he is a good co-coordinator. I get on with him very well.

 

He always keeps his word. If he promises to do something, he does it, whether he has promised to support the Paralympic Movement, come to the Paralympic Games or come to my birthday party.

 

The host city of the 2012 Games is London and you are from London. Is there any experience BOCOG can offer to London?

 

Sure. The word "harmony" that you use often. And I hope the Games in London will be a harmonious games. It's very important today. Sport is about spirits more than anything. Sport is not about money. Why did London win? I think it is because London showed it would protect and project the spirit of sport.

 

The Paralympic Movement was founded in Great Britain. As Athens is the home of Olympics, Great Britain is the home of Paralympics and that makes me feel very proud to be British.

 

Do you think through hosting the Paralympic Games, China can improve the social status of disabled people? If yes, to what extent?

 

Only China can decide to what extent. I cannot predict this. However, you cannot change people's and civilizations' perceptions by commanding them to do something. The way you change perceptions is by allowing people to have those experiences, positive experiences which may change any negative thoughts.

 

We have a vision for Paralympic Sports and it finishes with Paralympians inspiring and exciting the world. This is what will happen when Chinese people come to watch Paralympians from all over the world competing in Beijing in 2008. Perceptions will change like that. And that leaves the government and the people to make the most of that change. This is the great legacy that the Paralympics leaves to any country, not only China. The Chinese Government realizes that this is a great opportunity to dramatically change the way this group of people is perceived.

 

As the president of IPC, how do you evaluate the development of the Paralympics over that past half a century?

 

I became the president of IPC because I was not happy with the way athletes were perceived in the 1970s.

 

I was one of the best basketball players in the world. But I had one of the worst coaches in the world. I told the event leader of our movement that the coach was not good. But I was banned from playing for a year in 1977 because I opened my mouth. From then Great Britain, which was the European champion in 1975, dropped to No 8 in 1977. I was not happy and I decided that we needed to have a revolution. I think the revolution has lasted at least 25 years to maybe the year 2001. I think now we are in an evolutionary period rather than a revolutionary period. I'm talking about the psychological changes in the Paralympic Games, not the size of the Games, which of course is growing as well. You can find out the details from reading varied information.

 

I'm a fighter even though I'm getting older now. If someone needs someone to fight, I'll go out to fight if I agree with the fight.

 

What is the most urgent job that BOCOG should do in terms of the preparations for the Paralympic Games?

 

I would be very excited to know about the opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games because on many occasions, the opening ceremony of the Paralympics is equal to that of the Olympics, if not more important.

 

The opening ceremony should emphasize the philosophy and spirit of sport. And so I'm waiting to have discussions with related people about the opening ceremony. I'm confident that the organization will go very well and that is the next thing that will excite and inspire me.

 

(China Daily November 10, 2006)