At the Olympic Forest Park, The Second Torchbearer International Paralympic Committee Vice President Duane Kahler relays the torch. Photographed by Wu Yibin, a reporter of this newspaper
Yesterday, in the Olympic Forest Park, martina Keyroni, a member of the Athletes' Committee of the International Paralympic Committee, the first torchbearer, kissed the torch. Photographed by Wu Yibin, a reporter of this newspaper
Torchbearer Zhao Sujing (left), director of the China Disabled Persons' Federation and director of the Sports Department, and Wu Jingjun, director of the China Sports Management Center for the Disabled, relay the torch. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Du Xiaoyi
Yesterday afternoon, the Beijing Winter Paralympic Torch Relay was carried out in the South Park of Aosen Park, and 21 torchbearers from the International Paralympic Committee and the China Disabled Persons' Federation carried out the torch relay activity under closed-loop conditions, once again witnessing the lighting of the torch on the central axis of the "City of The Two Olympic Games". The reporter learned that among the 21 torchbearers, there are 5 disabled people.
The torch relay is 3 kilometers long, in a counterclockwise direction through the east gate of the South Park of the Olympic Forest Park, the north side of the Ojai Fitness Trail, and finally to the Olympic Declaration Square to collect the fire. This closed-loop relay is consistent with the Winter Olympic Torch Relay, which is lit at the landscape stone of the south gate of Aosen South Park and closed in the Olympic Declaration Square, reflecting the concept of "two Olympic Games, equally wonderful".
At 3 p.m., the ignition ceremony was held on time. IPC Vice-President Duane Kahler and Matina Keyroni, member of the IPC Athletes' Committee, served as the first two torchbearers. Paralympic champion Martina Keroni from Italy took the torch and showed it to the media and began to run, followed by Duane Kahler in a wheelchair.
"I feel very honored to be a torchbearer, especially in Beijing, which is very significant." Duane Kahler shared his ties with reporters about his relationship with Beijing. He came to Beijing in 1994 as a swimmer and led a New Zealand team to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. Duane Kahler said: "I am especially looking forward to the athletes being able to perform in those wonderful venues! ”
Duane Kahler believes that sport is not only a platform for athletes to perform and show, but also an opportunity to show the world what a disability has achieved, and to show the public what an inclusive and barrier-free society looks like. "The 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games brought great changes to China. Friends with disabilities, like every ordinary person, integrate into society and participate in social interactions. ”
For the upcoming Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, Duane Kahler is full of expectations. "China will hold a spectacular opening ceremony, and the Chinese government, the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee and all the public have done a lot of work to prepare for the Paralympic Games to the current level." He also shared his feelings in Beijing, "I took the torch and walked on the flat road, the hotel is also very easy to reach, the barrier-free facilities are well connected, and the whole streamline is complete." Athletes from all over the world are also experiencing the venues, and the Paralympic venues in Beijing are all great. ”
Source: Beijing Daily reporter Ren Shan
Process Editor: Dan Guo