Beijing, 8 Sep (Xinhua) -- At the just-concluded Tokyo Paralympic Games, the Chinese delegation won 96 gold, 60 silver, and 51 bronze bronzes, achieving the "double first" in the gold medal table and medal table for the fifth consecutive time, showing the good image of China's disabled people working tenaciously and self-confidence and self-improvement.
The base of the battle for gold and silver
Zhang Yan, a 54-year-old gold medalist in table tennis at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, has participated in five Paralympic Games, and he has not only witnessed Countless Times chinese athletes competing for gold and silver in the Paralympic Games, but also witnessed the progress of China's disabled cause.
Zhang Yan said that what he has felt most deeply in recent years is that the barrier-free environment has been greatly improved. Once, he returned to his hometown in Zhengzhou from the Zhengding Table Tennis Training Base in Hebei Province, and he arrived home smoothly in a wheelchair, and the subway station, railway station, and bus station had barrier-free facilities.
On September 3, China's Yan Shuo (second from left), Liao Keli (second from right) and Chen Chao (first from right) won gold in the men's table tennis men's final of the Tokyo Paralympic Games in levels 6-7. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhu Wei
"In the past, barrier-free facilities were not perfect, and people had to move everywhere, so many disabled people were reluctant to go out. Now, shopping malls, banks, transportation facilities have barrier-free access, and people with disabilities are more willing to go out. Zhang Yan said.
In recent years, he has seen more people with disabilities get involved in sports. "In recent years, I have been invited to participate in more and more sports activities and public welfare events for the disabled." Zhang Yan said, "China now not only solves the problem of food and clothing for the disabled, but also meets their needs at a higher level such as culture, art and sports." ”
On August 25, the barrier-free elevator entrance outside the Guihuaping subway station in Changsha, Hunan Province. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xue Yuge
During the "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan" period, China's cause of the disabled has made major achievements, and the goal of "building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, and no disabled person can be left behind" was achieved as scheduled. 7.1 million rural people with disabilities were lifted out of poverty, 1.808 million new disabled people were employed in urban and rural areas, and 10.768 million disabled people with difficulties were included in the scope of the minimum living guarantee. 12.126 million disabled people with difficulties received living allowances, and 14.738 million severely disabled people received nursing subsidies. The coverage rate of basic rehabilitation services for the disabled has reached 80%, and the adaptation rate of assistive devices has reached 80%. The proportion of children and adolescents with disabilities receiving compulsory education has reached 95%, and more than 50,000 students with disabilities have entered institutions of higher learning.
Zhao Sujing, secretary general of the Chinese sports delegation at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, said: The outstanding achievements of the Chinese sports delegation are a concrete embodiment of China's continuous development and progress and the continuous enhancement of its comprehensive national strength, and are a vivid portrayal of the accelerated development of the cause of the disabled in China and the marked improvement of the living conditions of the vast number of disabled people.
The medicine to rebuild confidence
Tian Fugang, 34, was injured in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, leaving him paralyzed in his lower body. During treatment at the Earthquake Rehabilitation Center of West China Hospital in Sichuan Province, doctors discovered his athletic talent and encouraged him to become an athlete. In the eyes of doctors, sports are not only conducive to physical recovery, but also a good medicine for the soul.
With the help of the government, Tian Fugang entered the training of the Sichuan Provincial Disabled Shooting Team, and after hard work, he finally stood on the Paralympic field after 13 years.
Although he did not get a medal, Tian Fugang was not discouraged. "For me, sport is not just about results, it's about finding me confident." Tian Fugang said, "I have proved myself that no matter what I do in the future, as long as I don't give up, I will definitely be able to do it." ”
China's Tian Fugang competes in the R7-SH1 50m men's self-selected rifle 3×40 on September 3. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Jinjia
Today, in China, more and more disabled people like Tian Fugang are beginning to rebuild their confidence with the help of sports. "For people with disabilities, psychological trauma is sometimes more difficult to recover than physically. Studies have shown that exercise can play a great role in the psychological rehabilitation of the disabled. Ma Jun, vice chairman of the Sichuan Disabled Persons' Federation, said, "In recent years, we have been exploring ways to help disabled people get out of the psychological shadow through sports, and have achieved good results." ”
Under the impetus of the government, the mass base of the disabled movement is constantly expanding. In 2015, the China Disabled Persons' Federation formulated the "Rehabilitation Sports Care Family Plan for the Disabled (Trial)", which promoted relevant departments in various localities to provide rehabilitation sports equipment and rehabilitation sports guidance for the severely disabled, and helped tens of thousands of disabled people participate in sports.
A bridge to social integration
In the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, 14-year-old Tang Xuemei was disabled by injuring her left leg. After being rescued, the reality that she could not even go to the toilet alone made her miserable. She became increasingly silent, introverted, and did not like to communicate with people.
With the help of the government, Tang Xuemei quickly installed a prosthesis, but this did not dispel her psychological haze. Until 2009, Tang Xuemei accidentally participated in a sitting volleyball game organized for disabled children and teenagers, and she was deeply impressed by the disabled people on the field who were active and sunny.
Subsequently, Tang Xuemei joined the Shanghai seated volleyball team, and her hard training made her improve rapidly, and she was selected for the national team only one year later, and won her first Paralympic gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympic Games. At this Tokyo Paralympic Games, Tang Xuemei led her teammates all the way to the final. Although she eventually lost to the United States and won the silver medal, she was still cheerful. She said: "It was volleyball that saved me and made me regain the courage to live and embrace society again. ”
Tang Xuemei (center) celebrates scoring in the Women's Seated Volleyball Group Stage at the Tokyo Paralympic Games on August 28. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Cheng
Sports are allowing more disabled people like Tang Xuemei to get out of the closed living environment, actively embrace the sunshine and integrate into society.
Ma Jun said that more than 130 special education schools in Sichuan Province carry out intramural and inter-school sports meetings every year, so that the disabled can build self-confidence in sports and integrate into society. In addition, the Sichuan Provincial Disabled Persons' Federation has reached agreements with some colleges and universities to allow disabled retired athletes to enroll in schools without exams and subsidize tuition fees to lay a good foundation for their employment.
In 2019, the China Disabled Persons' Federation and the State General Administration of Sport jointly issued the Guiding Opinions on Further Strengthening the Rehabilitation, Fitness and Sports Work of the Disabled, which aims to let more disabled people go out of their homes and promote the improvement of the functions of the disabled groups, enhance physical fitness, improve the quality of life, and integrate into social interactions through sports.
On March 19, visually impaired people experience ice bowling at the Moore City Indoor Ice Rink in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Behe
With the implementation of the policy, in 2020, 1320 new community fitness demonstration sites for the disabled will be added nationwide, and 10,000 social sports instructors for the disabled will be trained. According to statistics, the participation rate of cultural and sports activities in the disabled community nationwide increased from 14.6% in 2019 to 17.8% in 2020.
Editors: Liu Ning, Wu Bowen, Zhou Xin, Lin Shengkuo (Intern)