Athletes have their meals in the dining
hall of the Paralympic village in Beijing, China, Aug. 30, 2008. The
Paralympic village officially opened to athletes from all over the world
on Saturday for the Beijing Paralympic Games. (Xinhua/Li Wen)Photo
Gallery>>>
BEIJING,
Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Paralympic Games host city Beijing has ramped up community
services for its disabled population to improve the quality of their lives, a
city official said.
More than 150 community service centers have been
built, totaling 45,814 square meters, to benefit more than 45,000 people with
impairment in the city, said Zhao Chunluan, Chief Director of the Beijing
Disabled Persons' Federation.
The centers are established to provide services like
rehabilitation, education, employment counseling, rights protection and improve
their cultural lives.
"The facilities prepare them for independent living
and help them to develop careers to support themselves," Zhao said.
Athletes have their meals in the dining
hall of the Paralympic village in Beijing, China, Aug. 30, 2008. The
Paralympic village officially opened to athletes from all over the world
on Saturday for the Beijing Paralympic Games.(Xinhua/Li Wen) Photo Gallery>>>
"Having the centers in place also help raise
awareness in the general population to care for those in special needs," she
added.
The centers are mainly funded by the government, with
the support of social security funds and other social sources.
Zhao said the 150 homes are only the beginning and
more such facilities need to be built for the disabled people.
Beijing has about one million disabled people, about
6.49 percent of its total population. Zhao said the hosting of the Paralympic
Games, between Sept. 6 to 17, will also accelerate the improvement of the lives
of those with disabilities.
Philip Craven, president of the
International Paralympic Committee, answers questions during a press
conference at the Swissotel Beijing, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept.
2, 2008. Craven showed his confidence in the coming 13th Paralympic Games
in Beijng. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Photo
Gallery>>>
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua)
-- The organizers of the Beijing Paralympics would set a good model for future
hosts, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said here
on Wednesday.
The Paralympics, the world's premier sporting event for elite disabled
athletes, will open in Beijing on Saturday, nearly two weeks after the Chinese
capital successfully hosting the Olympic Games. Full story
HONG KONG, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Bermuda's Sandy
Mitchell, aged 64and believed to be the oldest rider of the equestrian events at
the Beijing Paralympic Games, is looking to earn a medal, no matter its color,
in the upcoming competition.
Born in Scotland with cerebral palsy in 1944,
Mitchell began riding as a boy but did not devote himself to the sport until
just 15 years ago. Full story
BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has promised to
stage an accessible Paralympics, and a barrier-free airport is a good place for
thousands of Paralympic family members to start their accessible journey in
Beijing.
Locating in Shunyi district, the Beijing Capital
International Airport(BCIA) consists of three terminals and three runways. It is
serving as the main airport for Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. Full story
