China National Paralympic Games: Sports Commentary & Inspiration

The 12th National Games for People with Disabilities and the 9th Special Olympics Games opened on the 8th. An upsurge that transcends the outcome of the game and demonstrates the power of life is surging in southern Guangdong.

On December 8, in the men’s three-person basketball final of the wheelchair basketball event at the 12th National Games for People with Disabilities and the 9th Special Olympics held in Guangzhou, the Liaoning team defeated the Beijing team 13:9. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Lu

“Chasing dreams in the Greater Bay Area leads to a brilliant life.” This is a comprehensive sports event covering 46 major events. It is a vivid practice of the concept of “equality, integration, and sharing” and a tribute to the era of individual self-improvement and social mutual assistance.

The glory of life is wonderful because of hard work. We witnessed the archery athlete Wu Chunyan break through the bottleneck and reach the highest podium. We marveled at the swimmer Jiang Yuyan surpassing the world record again and again. We were moved by the story of the 35-year-old runner Wang Yiyi from his first participation in the National Paralympic Games in 2007 to this year’s “full attendance”. At the National Paralympic Games, athletes worked hard to pursue their dreams and told the world: The intensity of life is never defined by physical limitations; life kissed me with pain, but I responded with songs.

On December 8, in the women’s group match of the blind goalball event at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th Special Olympics held in Guangzhou, the Zhejiang team defeated the Shanghai team 13:3. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Zhixuan

This “runway” leading to dreams is built by the whole society. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the development of sports for people with disabilities in my country has continued to reach new heights. More and more people with disabilities have gone out of their homes and widely participated in physical exercise, rehabilitation and fitness. “Inclusion of people with disabilities” is becoming a reality from a vision. Disabled people who have gained health and confidence in sports, together with able-bodied people, are demonstrating the vitality and boundless vitality of the 1.4 billion Chinese people in accelerating the construction of a strong sports country and a healthy China.

This is the second time in the history of the National Paralympic Games that it has been held in the same year and at the same place as the National Games. It is also the first time that Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have jointly hosted the National Paralympic Games. The three places have carefully prepared for the competition in accordance with the principles of “synchronized deployment, synchronized planning, synchronized implementation, and synchronized advancement” of the National Games and the National Paralympic Games, demonstrating the unique advantages of the “one country, two systems” system. The Guangdong competition area proposed the construction concept of “zero barrier competition area”, transforming the “guarantee demand” for barrier-free environment construction in previous events into “long-term benefits”; the Hong Kong competition area, the Macau competition area and the Guangdong competition area formed a positive interaction with “each having its own focus and complementary advantages”, and jointly built a Paralympic Special Olympics event system covering different projects and targeting different groups. The three places have worked together to create this Paralympic Games that is “love-free” and is a vivid reflection of the in-depth integration and coordinated development of the Greater Bay Area.

On December 8, athletes participated in the fun activities of the “Special Olympics Athletes Health Plan” at the auxiliary hall of the Zhongshan City Gymnasium in Guangdong Province. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Chenguang

The National Paralympic Games has begun again. In the following competition period, let us witness the soul-shaking moments and listen to the inspiring stories. What the Paralympic Games ignites is the light of life that refuses to succumb to fate; what the Paralympic Games illuminates is the path of integration that allows people to work together to create a better society. This light is enough to inspire everyone to face the difficulties and challenges in life more tenaciously, and to embark on the journey of pursuing their own dreams more firmly.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)