Picture taken on March 13, 2022 reveals a scene earlier than the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Video games on the Nationwide Stadium in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) — The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Video games, identical to the Winter Olympics earlier than them, have offered a tangible legacy that extends far past the sporting area.
In these testing occasions, the fortitude, tenacity and ebullience of the Paralympians function a lesson that we will all heed.
One of many largest surprises for a lot of has been the excellent performances of the host nation’s para athletes. 4 years after profitable its first-ever Winter Paralympic medal in PyeongChang, China dominated at these Video games, with gold medals in alpine snowboarding, biathlon, cross nation snowboarding, snowboarding, wheelchair curling in addition to an unlikely bronze medal in ice hockey.
The latter got here regardless of having fielded a para ice hockey workforce for the primary time solely six years in the past.
The raft of medals gained by China is due in no small half to the onerous work of athletes. But it surely additionally displays efforts to enhance the wellbeing of individuals with disabilities and supply them with alternatives to attain their targets.
“We now have to essentially thank the nation for investing a lot within the athletic careers of individuals with incapacity and for creating such a superb coaching atmosphere for us,” stated ice hockey ahead Wang Zhidong.
“Because of everybody on the workforce in addition to our teaching workers for placing a lot into guiding us.”
CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES
The composition of China’s ice hockey squad additionally bears testimony to the nation’s imaginative and prescient for a world freed from stereotypes and inequality. It’s because the workforce comprised Yu Jing, the one feminine para ice hockey participant at Beijing 2022.
“If males can do it, so can ladies,” Yu stated. “I felt that I am gifted and had the arrogance instantly. When females with disabilities see me on the ice, they know that there is a risk for them too. It’s an encouragement.”
Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee (BOCOG) vp Yang Shu’an stated China understood that the Paralympic Video games are usually not nearly profitable medals, however a stage upon which individuals with disabilities can categorical themselves and notice their goals.
“With the financial and social improvement in China, there was rising care and assist for para sports activities,” Yang stated. “Individuals with disabilities have at all times been striving to be higher, so it is a mixture of things,” he added.
China had a file variety of 96 athletes competing on the Paralympics in addition to 121 assist workers. In line with Worldwide Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Michael Parsons, the efforts by China to advertise Paralympic sports activities and supply alternatives for these with disabilities ensured the nation would proceed to supply distinctive athletes.
“There’s been an outstanding change in Chinese language Paralympic winter sports activities. Solely China can ship such a progress quantity. The way forward for Chinese language Paralympic winter sports activities goes to be similar to summer season sports activities, with China turning into one of many main nations within the Paralympic motion,” he stated.
IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES
One of many highlights for para athletes at Beijing 2022 had been the steps taken by BOCOG to create a barrier-free atmosphere at every of the three competitors zones in downtown Beijing, the capital’s northwest Yanqing district and co-host Zhangjiakou, Hebei province.
“Based mostly on the precise wants of the para athletes we made changes in any respect venues to make sure their security and accessibility,” BOCOG planning director Liu Yumin stated.
“For instance, we put in computerized doorways on the entrances of the venues, barrier-free seats within the stands, barrier-free loos and Braille signage in elevators. One other instance is the audio notification system in use on the medical stations to assist the visually impaired athletes.”
It’s this final level that the majority impressed Ileana Rodriguez, a paralympic swimmer and IPC accessibility specialist.
“Numerous the time we expect that accessibility is just about mobility. We are inclined to neglect about issues for individuals with imaginative and prescient impairments to take part as nicely,” Rodriguez stated. “A few of the adjustments that wanted to occur within the villages, for instance, had been the higher signage BOCOG offered within the eating halls for the athletes to have the ability to see and choose what they wanted to eat. One other instance is the tactile way-finding methods in order that athletes can information themselves round.
“We will go away a tradition that’s extra open to have individuals with disabilities of being lively and being a part of the society, which I feel is among the finest legacies that the Paralympic Video games can go away. I hope that the Paralympic motion continues to try this similar job not solely right here, however Beijing undoubtedly is setting the bar for Milano-Cortina [the 2026 Paralympics].”
IPC communications officer Craig Spence stated services constructed for athletes with disabilities would have an enduring influence on host cities.
“Accessibility on the Paralympic Video games is a superb legacy. It not solely advantages individuals with disabilities but additionally individuals with out disabilities,” Spence stated.
“What’s actually thrilling in regards to the work right here in Beijing is it is constructing on the legacy of the 2008 [Summer] Video games. The Paralympic Video games in 2008 and the Paralympic Winter Video games in 2022 are actually performing as this great catalyst for bettering accessibility on this nation, and that may solely be an actual optimistic.”
LASTING LEGACY
Parsons predicted that these Video games would act as a benchmark for future editions of the Winter Paralympics.
“I feel it reveals the energy of the Paralympic motion, that we’re getting stronger and stronger and extra related.”
BOCOG spokesperson Zhao Weidong agreed: “The Beijing Paralympic Winter Video games have produced and can proceed to supply numerous legacies. I feel these legacies will additional promote the event of sports activities for the disabled.”
Arguably essentially the most lavish reward for the Beijing 2022 Paralympics got here from Switzerland’s Theo Gmur after he took bronze within the males’s downhill standing occasion.
“It was actually so nicely organized. With the group half, it was one of the best Video games I’ve ever been to,” he stated. “I’ll attempt to come again to China for certain, however as a vacationer, not as a skier with all of the stress we had for the final two weeks.
“As an athlete, and as a Paralympian, we must always do our greatest to only give some emotion again to the individuals who assist us and present the youthful technology that they’ll dream.”
Gmur and the 545 different para athletes at Beijing 2022 have actually completed that. ■