London, February 28 (Xinhua) -- The spark of the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing was collected in Mandeville, England, on February 28. This spark from the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement will then be combined with eight other fires to form the official flame of the Winter Paralympic Games.
This is a lit tinder taken on Feb. 28. The fire of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games was collected in Mandeville, England, on February 28, local time. This spark from the birthplace of the Paralympic movement will then be gathered with 8 fires from Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou to generate the official flame of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ying
In this small village, about 80 kilometers northwest of London, neurologist Gutman organized an archery competition in wheelchairs by 16 patients on the opening day of the 1948 London Olympic Games, becoming the first light to illuminate the start of the Paralympic Movement.
Seventy-four years later, British wheelchair curlers Malone and Nelson, who have participated in the Winter Paralympic Games many times, slowly drove to the tinder with the Beijing Winter Paralympic torch. With the night and the gentle drizzle, Malone lit the tinder basin with a torch in his hand, symbolizing the completion of the first and only way to collect foreign fire at the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games.
Malone said: "I feel so proud and honored. The last time I was here was 40 years ago, when I was 16 years old, I saw wheelchair exercise here and it was an eye-opener. ”
Torchbearers, wheelchair curlers Nelson (right) and Malone at a tinder gathering ceremony on Feb. 28. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ying
On March 2, Beijing time, the Mandeville fire and 8 other fires will be gathered into the official fire of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, followed by a torch relay until the opening of the Winter Paralympic Games on March 4.
Zheng Zeguang, Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom, said in his speech: "This flame, which symbolizes courage, determination, motivation and equality, will burn in winter, like a bright lamp to illuminate the cold winter, bring us health, joy and vitality, ignite self-confidence and courage for disabled friends around the world, and light up the road to success in life." ”
IPC President Parsons sent his congratulations via video. He said that at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, China had set a new benchmark for hosting competitions and allowing paralympic athletes to reach their full potential. The 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games is of great significance to the development of winter sports for the disabled in China.
This is the Beijing Winter Paralympic Torch photographed at the Tinder Gathering Ceremony on February 28. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ying
In 1960, Gutmann's tournament went out of Mandeville for the first time and was held in the same venue after the Rome Olympics, which was subsequently recognized as the first Paralympic Games in history. Since the 1976 Paralympic Games, summer athletes are no longer limited to people with spinal injuries, but also add amputations, visual impairments and other athletes, and the first Winter Paralympic Games were also held in the same year.
Gutman believes that involving people with disabilities in sports not only allows them to improve their physical fitness, but also helps them regain their self-esteem, "but most importantly, to reintegrate them into society." He ignited the first spark of the Paralympic Movement with his once distinctive but unwavering convictions, illuminating the world of countless people.