The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games September 6-17, 2008
The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games September 6-17, 2008
Date/Time: 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 17
Venue: Main Press Conference (MPC)
Wang Hui
Good morning. It is my great pleasure. I am glad to welcome you to the last press conference in the Main Press Center. This evening, the 2008 Paralympic Games is going to come to an end. The Chinese team has accomplished a very proud result. Today, we are holding this press conference to share with you the performance of the Chinese team. You have seen a lot of important officials on the stage. Now I will introduce them. First of all, Mr. Wang Xinxian, chef de mission of China Paralympic Delegation, president of National Paralympic Committee of China, vice chairman of China Disabled Persons' Federation; Mr. Feng Jianzhong, deputy chef de mission of China Paralympic Delegation, vice minister of the General Administration of Sports of China; Mr. Lu Shiming, deputy chef de mission of China Paralympic Delegation, vice president of National Paralympic Committee of China, executive vice president of CDPF Executive Board; Mr. Jia Yong, executive deputy chef de mission of China Paralympic Delegation, member of CDPF Executive Board, director of CDPF Sports Department; Mr. Sheng Zhiguo, executive deputy chef de mission of China Paralympic Delegation, director-general of Sport-for-all Dept of the General; Madam Zhao Sujing, secretary-general of China Paralympic Delegation, executive deputy secretary-general of NPC China.
Now let's welcome Mr. Jia Yong to share with us the overall situation on performance of the Chinese team. Then we would like to answer your questions.
Jia Yong
Good morning friends from the media. Now let me share with you the overall situation of China's sports team.
First of all, a general situation from September 7 to 17.
332 athletes took part in all 20 sports and events. They worked very hard and competed wholeheartedly. By 10 a.m. today, we got 87 gold medals, 68 silver medals, 52 bronze medals. The total medals are 207. We are NO.1 both in terms of gold medals and the medals. We have accomplished our present tasks and goals.
The matches are very characteristic in following areas.
We have increased the number of gold medals and expanded our areas of competition. Now we have gold medals in 11 sports compared to 9 in Athens Paralympic Games. This is first for us to get the rowing, goalball and wheelchair racing. This shows the overall competitiveness of our team. Secondly, we further consolidated our advantageous events such as track & filed, swimming, table tennis and powerlifting. The four above mentioned events contributed 37 golds, 13 golds, 13 golds and 9 golds respectively, accounting for 82.8% of the total gold medals. Those potentially advantageous items are quite good. Judo, archery and wheelchair fencing have improved greatly. For the team events, a broad level has been enhanced. Apart from sitting volleyball, it is the first for us to take part in other events. For the goalball, we got a gold and a silver for men and women respectively. For the women's volleyball sitting, we won 5 out of all the 5 competitions. For the men's volleyball sitting, we also did well. For rowing, we made a breakthrough. In track & field, the wheelchair racing, China got 10 medals and broke 9 world records. For rowing team, which was formed only two years ago, we got one gold which is very precious. Peng Yulian from equestrian, he trained for many years and got NO.6. For sailing and boccia, we did that for the first time. The performance is not bad in general. We have accomplished the present target. We have matched the expectations of the mother land and the people.
Secondly, the reasons for the good results.
First, the economic and social development and the civilization progress work as a solid foundation for the good result. After 30 years of reform and open up policy, economic and social development has laid a social foundation for the people with disability. Both country and the party attached great importance to the sports courses of the people with disability. Their livelihood has been improved. Their training condition have been guaranteed.
Secondly, the Communist Party, State Council and government at all levels as well as the ministries concerned and also supported us greatly. The Communist Party and State Council attached great importance to people with disability. The government ministries concerned also are supporting us greatly, in terms of the human and financial resources as well as material support. The leaders of the provinces and municipalities integrated the work of the disabled people in sports events as the overall social economic development plan.
Thirdly, the high organization work of the BOCOG is very good. We have realized our target of 'two games equal splendor' with very high level and advanced facilities, logistic support and very good supportive volunteers. The spectators are warmhearted which is a very good guarantee for the best performance of the athletes.
Fourthly, the support of the media and the broad masses of the people is also a power source of the people and the athletes. There is a great campaign for those supports. The people in the country supported us greatly by providing us a very good spiritual driving power.
Fifthly, the athletes themselves wok very hard and the sports staff worked very hard. The athletes participated with the joy and confidence. They trained hard for the society, and they created wonderful miracle for the sports staff and the disabled people. They also worked very hard for many years. They helped the dream of the athletes to come true. As to the impression of the Paralympic Games, we can see the rapid development of the sports for the people with disability. In our country, we don't have very substantial advantages on many events and sports. That shows all country intensifies the care for the people with disability. Meanwhile, there are more and higher requirement and expectations for them. Also the technology and the content of these events are increasing. This raised a lot of new requirement for the future.
Meanwhile, it will further promote the sports events for people with disability so as to allow those competition events to drive forward the popular sports which we will establish and perfect long standing mechanism to provide very good support and guarantee for the sustainable development of the courses. We have to further carry out people-centered develop concept to bring a very good future. Thank you very much.
Wang Hui
I would like to thank Mr. Jia Yong for his briefing. Now it is time for Q&A.
China Radio International
The Summer Olympic Games, when you got gold medals, athletes will have financial rewards. I would like to know whether gold medalists would have financial rewards. Second question is whether in China, you have any measures to promote the development of sports for people with disability.
Wang Xinxian
Thank you for your questions. This time, the team China had a very good performance. Our athletes did quite well. I should say that has to do with the overall organization of the venues, the support of the volunteers, and also with the fact that the spectators are very warm.
I should say good result to the athletes is very good encouragement. As for the reward to the athletes, of course, the country will have some rewards based on the excellent performance of each individual that may come from central or local government. Meanwhile, we will be more and more focused on making a long term mechanism to help the players and athletes to recover to find jobs, to continue their study, and issues like that so that the athletes will be able during the process of taking part in the sports event don't have to worry about other things. When they withdraw from career of sportsman, they would have a very good life. This will fully reflect the country's policy for the athletes with disability, the country's care for them, and that will reflect the support of the overall society for those athletes.
Sports Press
Question for Mr. Feng Jianzhong. The slogan is 'Two Games, Equal Splendor'. The feedback is very good as splendid Games. As the deputy chef de mission of China Paralympic Delegation and vice minister of the General Administration of Sports of China, could you comment on the influence of the two Games on the course of the people with disability?
Feng Jianzhong
Of course both Games are indeed splendid. The performance of the athletes and their spirit is very splendid. The slogan is Two Games, Equal splendor', and they are splendid. The performance of the journalists, your coverage, is indeed very splendid in the history of China's taking part in Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is a good result, and a very good heritage because there are so many splendors. For China's sports course and many courses and the promotion in the future, this is no doubt very influential. It showcases the fact that Chinese people are capable of achieving enormous and can achieve world class levels.
Secondly, the hosting of the two Games would promote sports activities in China and drive ordinary Chinese to change their mindset and to develop new ideas about sports and to share the joy of sports. In the future, the Chinese people will be able to develop a brand new life style. This is very important, because it has something to do with the lifestyle of ordinary Chinese people.
In addition, throughout these two Games, we have got to appreciate world class athletic performance. It is our responsibility to learn from the rest of the world. We need to be farsighted in this area. We need to identify our strengths and weak points and find the right direction for further development. So these two Games are very enlightening for us.
Thirdly, we need to follow the international standard and push for higher standard in the future. Only in this way can we further promote the sports course in China, and can we develop our country in the efficient way. I believe that at all levels, the sports activities especially at grass root level, we are going to develop new measures policies and strategies to promote sports at all levels. The legacy left by these two Games will be promoted among all Chinese people.
In the process of China's overall development, sports development will serve further development in our country. People will lead a happy life. All friends from the media the news coverage offered by the media have been spectacular as well. The journalists seating here, the hard effort of technicians, editors, staff, and drivers were working tirelessly behind the scene. That ensures that we can successfully hold the two Games. Your performance has been equally splendor, and you are equally amazing. On behalf of the Chinese delegation, I want to thank you all. It is precisely because of your tireless effort, that we have been able to deliver Paralympic Games and Olympic Games across the world and achieve a far reaching impact.
I know you have been working very hard to make news report. It is just because of your hard efforts, the whole world could enjoy the splendor the Olympic and Paralympic Games. You are just as hard working as the athletes. You have to make a lot of preparation before the competition and watch morning to night during the competition, you need to interview the athletes, take photos and write editorials and afterwards, you have to write until midnight in order to deliver your job. I believe that these Games have been splendid and in particular, humanitarian writing and coverage by journalists like you have been equally splendid and touching. Thank you very much for your hard work.
It is because of your sweat and labor we have been able to appreciate the sporting spirit of the athletes. In this way, the ordinary people around the world have been able to appreciate the performance and the spirit of the athletes. On behalf the Chinese delegation, I want to thank you to your all. I know you have been away from your family for a long time. I think after the Games come to an end, it is time for you to take a break. Thank you so much.
Kyodo News
My question is regarding the physical capability of the Chinese athletes. What kind of training do the Chinese athletes go through on a daily basis? Thank you.
Zhao Sujing
All the 332 are amateur athletes. Through various selections and trials, they have been put on the Chinese delegation. Some are freelancers, some workers, and some have their own jobs. When they are cooperated into our delegation, we have organized intensive training routines to improve the athletic performance. They have been competing successfully in this Paralympic Games. When the Games is over, they would go back to their jobs or studies to continue their normal life. Through the Paralympic spirit, through the participation, the Paralympic spirit has been part of their daily life. Paralymic spirit and Paralympic competitions will be a permanent part of their lives in the future. I believe that will have a far-reaching impact on their future life and career. When the Games is over, the athletes will go back to their home town. In their hometown, the city, the provincial government will arrange their life and sports training routine. In the future, when there are future sports meetings, we will recruit them again into our national delegation for them to participate in further sports meetings.
Parity Democrat, Westminster
I have heard it has said too often that this is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for China. I think that is wrong. China has one fifth of the world's population and so you should claim the Olympiad every 20 years, so that in 2028 I hope that you will offer Nanjing, Guangzhou and Chongqing and so on, and in 2048, if you want to offer high attitude Olympics, like in Mexico City in 1968, that you might offer Lhasa. Now there are several Chinese expressions which I am always quoting to friends. One is the art of cooking is heating. This is a Chinese expression, to which the English, sometimes add it also the discipline of reading. There is another one, which I quote more often, that Chinese do not open a shop unless you have a smile on your face. This certainly is what you have done with the volunteers here, which has been marvelous. They may not know the way. They may say 'bye bye' when they mean 'hello'. But nevertheless, that smile is very welcome. There are Chinese communities in Vancouver and in London. If they have gone to smile, then I hope, you would send technical assistant missions to Vancouver, to London and certainly, to Sochi to get the people to smile again, even if you have to send 1,000 goodwill ambassadors among your smiling volunteers. It has been a really good pleasure to be in China for that reason.
Wang Hui
Thank you so much. This is not a question, this is an excellent recommendation. Thank you so much for that. I think indeed the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games have been a wonderful bridge that links China and the rest of the world. Thank you so much for your excellent suggestion.
Yomiuri Shimbun
The success of the Games, I would like to know what effect the Games would have on the activities of all the disabled people in China.
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