Xi'an, 22 Oct (Xinhua) -- Twenty-five days after the flame of the 14th National Games was extinguished, the 11th National Paralympic Games and the 8th Special Olympics opened in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, on 22 October. The 4,484 Special Olympics athletes from all provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, special administrative regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, carrying the hopes of 85 million disabled people across the country, will chase their dreams of surpassing themselves and not fearing difficulties in Shaanxi, where "the river flows and drinks, and the willows are snowing", showing their spirit of challenging strong hands and having the courage to fight, and writing their own beautiful chapter in the new era.
On October 22, the main torch was lit at the Xi'an Olympic Sports Center. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Bowen
The National Paralympic Games and Special Olympics Games are the comprehensive paralympic games with the highest specifications, the largest scale, the highest level of competition and the strongest radiation driving effect in China. The two events, which have been held for ten and seven years respectively, will be held in the same place as the National Games for the first time this year, providing an opportunity to comprehensively review the level of development of Chinese sports in China, including the athletic ability and spiritual outlook of the disabled.
On October 22, the mascot of the 11th Paralympic Games of the People's Republic of China and the 8th Special Olympics Games was held at the opening ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yibo
In the face of the epidemic prevention and control into the new normal of the environment and the national games end time is not long, the venue function conversion time is urgent, the host Shaanxi Province learned from the successful experience of the National Games, put the life safety and physical health of the participants in the highest priority position, with the strength of the whole province, sent elite soldiers to provide meticulous and thoughtful service for every Paralympic Athlete: whether it is the new barrier-free handrails, electronic pagers, Braille buttons in each venue, or the slope of the steps that have been treated with anti-slip treatment. The 22 venues in Shaanxi that undertake the task of hosting the games will provide the most complete guarantee for athletes with the most intimate care and the most accurate service. Shao Jing, vice president of Xi'an First Hospital, said that in accordance with the concept of "standards do not drop, better service, and run the Special Olympics for the Disabled", they will let the athletes of the National Special Olympics feel a different "Shaanxi temperature".
This year's Special Olympics, just finished the Tokyo Paralympic Games and 96 gold, 60 silver, 51 bronze, a total of 207 medals, to achieve five consecutive Paralympic gold medal table, medal table "double first" Chinese paralympic athletes, all out of the race. Whether it is Ma Jia, who won the rematch against the opponent's complaint and issued "rematch on the rematch, I can swim faster", or Li Zhangyu, who won the track cycling championship in three consecutive Paralympic Games and broke the world record, they have shown the world the new achievements in the development of China's sports for the disabled with the spirit of not fearing the enemy and surpassing themselves, relying on their personal efforts and the meticulous efforts of the guarantee team. Relying on the Special Olympics as a stage to chase their dreams, Chinese athletes with disabilities will continue to work tenaciously in Shaanxi to achieve their goals of surpassing records and dreams. It is believed that the preparation for the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, which has entered the countdown, will also accumulate experience and increase confidence through the holding of the Special Olympics.
On October 22, the flag bearer escorted the flag of the 11th Paralympic Games of the People's Republic of China and the 8th Special Olympics Games into the opening ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yibo
Special Olympics athletes are representatives of the Olympic spirit, the Chinese sportsmanship and the sportsmanship of the disabled, they are a model of patriotic dedication and unremitting self-improvement for the disabled in the country, and they are also a model for young people in the new era to practice "the mission is on the shoulders, the struggle is with me". At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, there was a moving scene of Liu Cuiqing, who won the women's 200m T11 class in athletics, and Xu Donglin, the frontrunner, after winning the championship, "You raise the national flag, I lift you"; there was also a touching picture of Bian Jing, the champion of the women's wheelchair fencing and saber individual A class, seeing the opponent with limited mobility in the wheelchair and taking the initiative to help the opponent exit. Chinese disabled athletes touched everyone with heart-warming actions again and again, and also showed their home and country feelings and humanistic qualities. They will once again demonstrate their spirit of self-improvement and striving to be the first in the Special Olympics arena, and practice the theme of "Light Up Dreams, Set Sail for Love".
Editors: Liu Ning, Jiang Hong, Wu Junkuan, Wu Bowen