The first anniversary of the Beijing Winter Paralympics, witnessing the development of the cause of the disabled

　　Chinanews.com, Beijing, March 4th: The first anniversary of the Beijing Winter Paralympics, witnessing the development of the cause of the disabled in the moving

　　Author Liu Xingchen

　　The hymn of life is refreshing and louder.

　　One year ago today, the National Stadium "Bird's Nest" was full of voices.

At that time, 12 days after the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the spark of the Paralympics finally met with the world.

　　At the end of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, accompanied by the cheers of the audience, Li Duan, a visually impaired athlete, groped to insert the last torch into the Snowflake main torch stand.

So far, the ancient capital Beijing has ushered in another historic moment in the "Double Olympic City".

Data map: On March 4, 2022, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Paralympics was held at the Beijing National Stadium.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Yang Huafeng

　　During the 9-day competition period, nearly 600 disabled athletes from 46 countries and regions participated in 6 major events and 78 minor events.

With the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games as a bridge, the world heard their life songs of challenging hardships, so that the cause of the disabled gave birth to flowers of hope.

　　As time goes by, "moving" and "exciting" are like a warm current, which is hard to erase in my heart.

The time train enters 2023, and the light of honor illuminates the road ahead of the ice and snow sports for the disabled in China. The mass ice and snow develops in depth, and the disabled unlock diverse lives...

Realizing dreams through the Paralympics

　　"Congratulations, China!" Parsons, chairman of the International Paralympic Committee, once thanked the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games in Chinese.

In his view, this ice and snow event marks a new dawn for the Paralympic Winter Games.

　　In that event, the Chinese delegation won 18 gold medals, 20 silver medals and 23 bronze medals, topping both the gold medal list and the medal list, achieving a historic breakthrough.

Data map: On March 11, 2022, the Beijing Winter Paralympic Paralympic Alpine Skiing Women's Giant Slalom-Standing Event Awards Ceremony was held at the Yanqing Awards Plaza.

The picture shows Zhang Mengqiu, a Chinese player who won the gold medal, showing his medal.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Yang Huafeng

　　Behind this is the development of China's Paralympic Winter Games.

Before 2015, China had only carried out two major Winter Paralympic sports: Paralympic cross-country skiing and wheelchair curling.

　　A year ago, 20-year-old Zhang Mengqiu galloped down the track of the National Alpine Ski Center and won 2 gold medals and 3 silver medals in the Beijing Winter Paralympics.

Nearly 6 years of training and preparations made her dreams come true at home.

"I like 'Finance' and gold!" This is also the true epitome of many Chinese Winter Paralympians.

　　"How many times can you fight in life, and when you don't fight now." They don't think about the past, fear the future, and show the beauty of life with a fighting attitude.

Wheelchair curling player Wang Haitao (pushing with a pole) is training.

Image source: China Disabled Sports Management Center

　　A few days ago, Zhang Mengqiu won 3 gold medals in the 10th Paralympic Games of Hebei Province and the 6th Special Olympics Games.

Before the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, Zhang Mengqiu tore the labrum of both hip joints and endured severe pain to realize his dream.

In June last year, she underwent more than six hours of surgery for this.

Only two days after the operation, Zhang Mengqiu started rehabilitation training, and she was quite tormented by the excruciating pain.

　　"Every game is very important to me, and I will do my best." Talking about the future, she wants everyone to see a better version of herself.

　　In order to prepare for the World Wheelchair Curling Championships held in March this year, the Chinese wheelchair curling team conducted pre-competition training at the China Disabled Sports Management Center.

In the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, they finally defended their title after losing two games in the group stage.

Today's "Master of Honor" is running into a new lineup from the old, and they have their sights set on the World Championships and even the 2026 Milan Winter Paralympics.

Roar to fate through the Winter Paralympics

　　In the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, in addition to the hard-working athletes, there are also disabled people who are unable to compete as athletes in the arena, but they roared unwillingly to fate with their love for the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games.

　　Because of an accidental car accident, 21-year-old Yang Yijia can only rely on a wheelchair when traveling.

His habit of watching English movies on weekdays makes his English proficiency quite good.

Data map: On March 8, 2022, the Beijing Winter Paralympics Paralympic Biathlon women's middle distance-visually impaired event final was held at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Center. Chinese player Wang Yue won in 43 minutes 16 seconds 3 third place.

The picture shows Wang Yue listening to the sound and aiming at the shooting target.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Hou Yu

　　During the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, he contacted the neighborhood committees of the community to explain the English names of various Winter Paralympic events to the residents.

"I hope that through my own actions, I can make a small contribution to the Winter Paralympics."

　　There is a leather painting studio in Wuji County, Shijiazhuang, where all the handicapped people are engaged in the creation of leather painting crafts.

With the Great Wall as the main body and combined with the theme of the Winter Olympics, five disabled people used the whole cowhide to create a piece of "Winter Olympics Welcomes Spring" in two years to cheer for the competition.

　　"I can't see the world, but I hope the world can see me." Wang Yue, who won two medals in the Beijing Winter Paralympics, expressed the aspirations of many disabled people with these words.

Although they are physically disabled, they dare to hold their fate by the throat. Through the light of the Beijing Winter Paralympics, the development concept of "equality, participation, and sharing" in China's disability cause is vividly demonstrated in them.

The picture shows people participating in the North home event of the China Disabled Ice and Snow Sports Season riding ice bikes.

Photo by Sun Hanlun

Promoting the development of the cause of persons with disabilities through the Winter Paralympics

　　"Change begins with sports, but not limited to sports." The successful holding of the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games has become the best footnote of this sentence.

　　In recent years, China has taken the preparations for the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games as an opportunity to improve the social security system and caring service system for the disabled, and promote the comprehensive development of the cause of the disabled.

The Beijing Winter Paralympics will make hundreds of thousands of improvements to the infrastructure in the three competition areas; 81% of the entrances and exits, 56% of the service counters, and 38% of the toilets in the comprehensive service facilities of villages (communities) across the country have been barrier-free and Transformation, the lives of 85 million people with disabilities in China have benefited from it.

　　In February of this year, the "Seventh China Disabled Ice and Snow Sports Season" was launched in many places.

Another year of ice and snow season coincides with the harvest of Paralympic heritage.

The picture shows the scene of the home event in the southern area of ​​the China Disabled Ice and Snow Sports Season.

Image source: Zhejiang Disabled Persons' Federation

　　Since its inception in 2016, the Disabled Ice and Snow Sports Season has become the only platform for disabled people to participate in ice and snow sports.

Chen Jianxin, the wheelchair curling champion of the two-time Paralympic Winter Games, said: "I hope that friends with disabilities can actively integrate into society, inspire high spirits, become participants in ice and snow sports, and demonstrate self-improvement, and strive to surpass themselves on the track of life. Pursue excellence."

　　Guo Zhibin, vice chairman of the Beijing Disabled Persons' Federation, emphasized the need to continue to play the legacy of the Beijing Winter Paralympics, manage and make good use of barrier-free ice and snow sports venues, and realize the normalization of ice and snow sports for the disabled.

　　Amid the resounding promises, the ice and snow sports for the disabled have developed rapidly.

During this period, the value of the spirit of ice and snow sports was seen, and the Paralympic values ​​of "courage, determination, motivation, and equality" were profoundly interpreted.

　　While providing a competitive stage for athletes from all over the world, the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games dispelled the dark flames and let the world listen to the voices of disabled people.

In the process of tolerance and mutual benefit, improve the quality of life of people with disabilities, and promote the progress of social civilization to a new level.

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