2008 Summer Paralympics

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See also: 2008 Summer Olympics

The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. Mainland China were the country who fielded the most athletes. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao.

Over 4,200 athletes from 148 countries were expected to take part.[1] This was the largest ever number of nations at the Paralympics (twelve more than in Athens), and several countries competed for the first time.[2] The slogan for the 2008 Paralympics was the same as the 2008 Summer Olympics, "One World, One Dream" (simplified Chinese: 同一个世界 同一个梦想; traditional Chinese: 同一個世界 同一個夢想 Pinyin Tóng yīge shìjìe tóng yīge mèngxiǎng, lit. "same world, same aspirations").

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Philip Craven declared the Games "the greatest Paralympic Games ever."[3]

Venues

Template:2008 Summer Paralympics Sidebar Nineteen competition venues—seventeen in Beijing, one in Hong Kong, and one in Qingdao—have been selected for the 2008 Summer Paralympics.[4]

  1. Beijing National Stadium (Birds Nest)
  2. Beijing National Aquatics Center (Water Cube)
  3. Beijing National Indoor Stadium (Fan)
  4. Fencing Gymnasium of Olympic Green Convention Centre
  5. Olympic Green Archery Field
  6. Olympic Green Hockey Field
  7. Olympic Green Tennis Centre (Flowers)
  8. Peking University Gymnasium
  9. Beihang University Gymnasium
  10. China Agricultural University Gymnasium
  11. Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium
  12. Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium
  13. Beijing Shooting Range Hall
  14. Laoshan Mountain Bike Course
  15. Workers Gymnasium
  16. Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park
  17. Triathlon Venue
  18. Hong Kong Equestrian Venues
  19. Qingdao International Sailing Centre

Symbols

Emblem

The emblem, "Sky, Earth, and Human Beings" (Chinese: 天、地、人), is a multicolored Chinese character "之" (Chinese: zhī) stylized as an athletic figure in motion. The red, blue, and green in the emblem represent sun, sky, and earth.[5]

Slogan

The slogan is the same as the 2008 Summer Olympics, "One World, One Dream".

File:Mascote paralympic 2008 pequim paraolimpico beijing 2008 fu niu lele.jpg
Lele, mascot of the 2008 Summer Paralympics

Mascots

The mascot is a cartoon cow named Fu Niu Lele (Chinese: 福牛乐乐), roughly meaning "Lucky Ox 'Happy'".[6]

Theme song

The theme song, sung by well known and popular Cantonese singer Andy Lau is 'Flying with the Dream'.[7]

Torch Relay

Main article: 2008 Summer Paralympics Torch Relay

The torch relay of the 2008 Summer Paralympics started from Tian Tan (Temple of Heaven) on August 28. The flame then gathered before The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿) and followed two routes (the "Route of Ancient China" and the "Route of Modern China"). Both routes returned to Beijing on September 5, and the torch was flamed at the National Stadium during the Opening Ceremony on September 6.

The Games

Further information: [[:highlights, medal table, and medal winners]]

Opening ceremony

Main articles: 2008 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony and 2008 Summer Paralympics national flag bearers

The opening ceremony took place on September 6, 2008. The pre-ceremony performance was a succession of various musical performances, ranging from military music to folk music and a performance of Ode to Joy.[8] Following a countdown, a fireworks display signalled the beginning of the ceremony proper. The national flag of China was then raised, in accordance with usual protocol, and the national anthem of China performed.[8] Performers wearing suits in bright colours paraded round the stadium, as a welcoming ceremony preceding the athletes' entry.[8] As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, the ceremony included a parade of nations, with a flag bearer for each national team. Contrary to Olympic tradition, the national team of Greece did not enter first; the host country came last. As Chinese is written in characters and not letters, the order of the teams' entry was determined by the number of strokes in the first character of their respective countries' Simplified Chinese names.[9] Countries with the same number of strokes in the first character are sorted by those of the next character. This made Guinea (几内亚) the first country to enter as it takes two strokes to write the first character in the country's name (几). Following the athletes' parade, a performance took place, divided into chapters and sub-chapters entitled the "Journey of Space" and "Journey of Life"[8] The sunbird performance entailed Yang Haitao (杨海涛), a singer with a visual impairment, singing about dreams while an acrobat in sunbird costume descended in simulated flight from the air and "awakened the blind singer from his sleep".[8] The ceremony concludes with Hou Bin, the high jump gold medalist with one leg lighting the flame cauldron.[10]

Closing ceremony

Main article: 2008 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony

The closing ceremony took place on September 17, 2008. CLOSING CEREMONY Sept. 17, National Stadium 1. Performance: Write the Postcard] “Cartoon postmen” come to the Bird’s Nest to invite audience members to write their wishes on postcards. The Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Games will be presented on a “plain” stage, a stretch of ordinary lawn serving as the center of the performances.When the spectators first enter the National Stadium, they find no stage in a traditional sense in the huge stadium, only a stretch of grass.Director Zhang assured reporters that the field of the Bird’s Nest was left in its original state on purpose, to serve as the backdrop for Closing Ceremony performances. He believes that the field itself expresses a language of art. At the Closing Ceremony, flowers will bloom on the grass, forming the words “A Letter to the Future” in both Chinese and English -- a magnificent scene that will be remembered forever in the minds of spectators.] 2. Entrance of the flags of all delegations] 3. Entrance of the athletes of all delegations] 4. Entrance of Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China and the President of the International Paralympic Committee 5. Countdown 6. Raising the national flag of China and playing the Chinese national anthem 7. Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award winners a. Said Gomez, athletics, Panama Gomez, 42, is a five-time Paralympian. He lost his sight at a young age and went through his father's discouragement and punishment to take part in his first Paralympics in 1992 where he won a gold and silver medals. The Panamanian NPC was only established in 2006 and prior to that, Gomez attended the Paralympics at his own expense. Since 1982, Gomez, who makes his living by farming, has been coaching children able bodied and with disabilities just for love of sports. For the first time in his six Paralympics, Gomez will return home without a medal as he failed to progress through the first round in both his events - the 1,500m and 5,000m. b. Natalie du Toit, swimming, South Africa The 24-year-old, who lost her lower left leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001, won five gold medals at the Beijing Paralympics to equal her haul from Athens four years ago. Du Toit is also the first female amputee to compete in an able-bodied Olympics. She finished 16th among 25 competitors in the 10-kilometer open-water swim last month at the Beijing Games. 8. New members of the IPC Athletes’ Commission are presented. The six new members of the Athlete's Commission present flowers to 12 representatives of Games volunteers. 9. Exit of the flags of all delegations. 10. Performance a. Red Leaves of Fragrant Hill The red leaves of Fragrant Hill, a famous scenic spot in Beijing, are famous for their beautiful shape and dazzling colors. In this chapter, the red leaves become an artistic image representing the people of Beijing and all expressing sincere good wishes to friends from around the world!

b. Sowing c. Watering d. Harvest e. Celebration 11. Performance: Mail It to the Future One hundred "postmen" standing on top of the Bird's Nest drop petals ceremoniously; while another 100 "postmen" fly up and down the rim of the Bird's Nest like swam geese. They solemnly deliver the colorful postcards signed by Beijing people and the audience present to the athletes of all delegations, one by one…


The "postmen" among the audience also drop the postcards of the audience into the postbox in the stadium to send them to the places all over the world through China Post. 12. Speeches a. Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games: “The Wishes of Red Leaves of Fragrant Hill.” Paralympic athletes at Beijing, Liu said, “have accomplished remarkable achievements by breaking 279 world records and 339 Paralympic records. They have shown their positive attitude toward life, such as self-respect, self-confidence, self-improvement and self-reliance. They have sung a hymn to humanity by displaying their sporting excellence.” b. Sir Philip Craven, IPC president: “A Letter to the Future.” “An ethereal Opening Ceremony. Staggering athletic performances in perfect stadia, The best-ever Paralympic villages. Amazing high-definition television coverage. A never-ending and self-generating supply of passion and emotion. Superb organization. Wonderful volunteers. Millions of new Paralympic sports aficionados both here in China and around the world. These are the greatest Paralympic Games ever.” 13. Raising the national flag of Britain and playing the British national anthem. 14. Lowering the IPC flag. 15. IPC Flag Handover Ceremony Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong gives the IPC flag to Sir Philip Craven, who transfers it to London Mayor Boris Johnson.

16. London Handover Presentation. The London bus, familiar from the Olympic Games handover presentation, returns, this time revealing an interior that is predominantly green with lush grass and a hedge cut into the shape of the London skyline. Paralympian Ade Adepitan guides the bus to the Stadium. 17. Extinguishing the Paralympic flame.

Sports

Twenty sports are on the program:

Rowing made its first appearance in the Paralympics at these games.

Calendar

 ●  Opening ceremony  ●  Event competitions  ●  Gold medal events  ●  Closing ceremony
September 6th
Sat		 7th
Sun		 8th
Mon		 9th
Tue		 10th
Wed		 11th
Thu		 12th
Fri		 13th
Sat		 14th
Sun		 15th
Mon		 16th
Tue		 17th
Wed 		Events
Ceremonies OC CC —
Archery ● ● ● ● 4 3 2 9
Athletics 10 20 17 10 16 20 18 19 25 5 160
Boccia ● ● 4 ● ● 3 7
Cycling Road cycling 15 4 4 46
Track cycling 5 7 7 4
Equestrian ● 2 4 2 3 11
Football 5-a-side ● ● ● ● ● 1 1
7-a-side ● ● ● ● 1 1
Goalball ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 2 2
Judo 4 4 5 13
Powerlifting 3 4 2 3 4 2 2 20
Rowing ● ● 4 4
Sailing ● ● ● ● ● 3 3
Shooting 2 2 2 2 2 2 12
Swimming 16 18 16 12 13 16 14 18 17 140
Table tennis ● ● ● 5 11 ● ● ● 4 4 24
Volleyball ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 1 2
Wheelchair basketball ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 1 2
Wheelchair fencing 3 3 2 2 10
Wheelchair rugby ● ● ● ● 1 1
Wheelchair tennis ● ● ● ● ● 1 3 2 6
Daily medal events 27 41 61 46 45 52 49 56 51 36 8 472
Cumulative total 27 68 129 175 220 272 321 377 428 464 472
September 6th
Sat		 7th
Sun		 8th
Mon		 9th
Tue		 10th
Wed		 11th
Thu		 12th
Fri		 13th
Sat		 14th
Sun		 15th
Mon		 16th
Tue		 17th
Wed		 Events

Participating NPCs

The following National Paralympic Committees sent delegations to compete.[11] Macau and the Faroe Islands are members of the International Paralympic Committee, but not of the International Olympic Committee; hence they participate in the Paralympic Games but not in the Olympics.

Medal count

Main article: 2008 Summer Paralympics medal table

The top ten ranked NPCs at these Games are listed below. (Host nation is highlighted)

1  China 89 70 52 211
2  Great Britain 42 29 31 102
3  United States 36 35 28 99
4  Ukraine 24 18 32 74
5  Australia 23 29 27 79
6  South Africa 21 3 6 30
7  Canada 19 10 21 50
8  Russia 18 22 23 63
9  Brazil 16 14 17 47
10  Spain 15 21 22 58

Events Highlights

Main article: 2008 Summer Paralympics highlights

Coverage

The International Paralympic Committee will be providing live video coverage of the Games on its website ParalympicSport.tv.[12]

The Audio Network provides live audio broadcast coverage of all goalball games during the paralympics.

Local Coverage

  • Australia - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) will present coverage of the Paralympic Games, on ABC1 and ABC2.
  • Brazil - Sportv2
  • Canada - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is providing coverage on their television and radio networks as well as extensive online coverage at CBC Paralympics in English. TV coverage consists of four digest shows. In French, Radio Canada (SRC), CBC's French language arm, is providing coverage in the form of two digests on television, with news articles on the web.
  • China, People's Republic of - Chinese Central Television (CCTV) provides coverage on CCTV-5 and CCTV-7.
  • France - Eurosport
  • Japan - NHK
  • Sweden - Sveriges Television
  • United States of America - UniversalSports.com, an online subsidiary of NBC Universal, provides live streaming of selected Paralympic Games events (free registration required).
  • United Kingdom - BBC is providing extensive coverage on television, and online.

In France, following the Games, Philippe Juvin, national secretary of the governing Union for a Popular Movement, accused national public television network France Télévisions of having practiced "segregation" by providing live coverage of the Beijing Olympics but only ten minute daily summaries of events, outside prime time, for the Beijing Paralympics. France Télévisions replied that it would take Juvin to court for slander.[13] [14]

References

  1. ^ "More than 4,200 Athletes to Compete at Beijing Paralympics", Xinhua, August 24, 2008
  2. ^ "CPC announces Canadian team for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in China", Canadian Paralympic Committee, July 8, 2008
  3. ^ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/17/content_10062213.htm
  4. ^ "Competition Venues - The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games". The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
  5. ^ Beijing Paralympics Emblem - The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games
  6. ^ Introduction to the Design of Fu Niu Lele - The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games
  7. ^ "Beijing Paralympic theme song shows love for life". Xinhua. 2008-09-06. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Full Coverage: The Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games", Xinhua, September 6, 2008
  9. ^ "Opening Ceremony plan released - The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games".
  10. ^ Peopledaily. "Peopledaily.com." China opens Beijing Paralympic Games in celebration of life and humanity. Retrieved on 2008-09-14.
  11. ^ Official list, International Paralympic Committee]
  12. ^ "Paralympic Games gets live online TV coverage", Xinhua, September 4, 2004
  13. ^ "Paralympiques: L'UMP accuse", Journal du dimanche, September 19, 2008
  14. ^ "Jeux paralympiques: France TV va attaquer Juvin (UMP) pour diffamation", Agence France-Presse, September 18, 2008
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