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Members of the Chinese sports delegation at the Paris Paralympic Games inauguration ceremony. Xinhua News Agency

The red, blue and green Paralympic logo on the Arc de Triomphe is eye-catching. From August 28 to September 8, 4,400 Paralympic athletes from all over the world will gather in Paris to compete in 22 major events and 549 minor events.

This is the 11th time that my country has sent a delegation to the Summer Paralympics. 284 athletes will compete in 19 major events and 302 minor events, including archery, track and field, and badminton. After intensive training and preparation, the Chinese sports delegation set off for Paris on August 21.

We hope that they will bravely surpass themselves, strive for outstanding results, achieve both great athletic achievements and spiritual civilization in this Paralympic Games, and fully demonstrate the self-respect, self-confidence, self-reliance and independence of our country's disabled people.

Full preparation

Wheelchair fencer Zhong Saichun and his teammates competed in a rectangular metal fencing ring with their wheelchairs fixed on the ring. Three years ago, Zhong Saichun missed the Tokyo Paralympics due to a small difference in points. This time, he was able to participate in the Paris Paralympics as he wished, and he was very eager to compete.

The Chinese sports delegation includes both famous athletes who have participated in many Paralympic Games and rookies who are competing in the Paralympic Games for the first time. They are not afraid of challenges and are carrying out simulation training and adaptive training intensively to prepare for the Paris Paralympic Games in a high-spirited state.

In this Paris Paralympic Games, wheelchair fencing will produce 16 gold medals. "We are currently focusing on technical training, encouraging new players while also helping veteran players adjust their mentality and avoid injuries," said Gong Xiuhong, coach of the Chinese wheelchair fencing team. The Chinese team has advantages in many group and individual events.

Track and field is my country's advantage in the Paralympic Games, and the team members are enthusiastic about training and are full of fighting spirit. Athlete Yao Juan is looking forward to her seventh Paralympic Games. "I will do my best in the shot put and discus events, and share the competition experience accumulated over the years with young team members to help them achieve good results." Yao Juan said. Wheelchair racer Zhou Zhaoqian won 2 golds and 1 bronze in the Tokyo Paralympic Games. When talking about the Paris Paralympic Games, she hopes to break the world record.

Continue to struggle

In 1984, at the 7th Summer Paralympic Games, Chinese athlete Ping Yali won the gold medal in the women's blind long jump with a great leap, breaking the "zero" Paralympic gold medal record for the Chinese team. "At the award ceremony, when the national anthem was played, I couldn't hold back my tears." Recalling the scene of that year, Ping Yali still couldn't hide her excitement.

As time goes by, Chinese athletes with disabilities continue to struggle and write a moving chapter of self-improvement and perseverance. At the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, the Chinese sports delegation won 63 gold, 46 silver and 32 bronze medals, ranking first in the number of gold medals and medals for the first time. In the subsequent Paralympic Games, the Chinese sports delegation continued to strive for the first place and has always been at the top of the gold medal and medal charts.

Not only in the Summer Paralympics, Chinese athletes with disabilities have also made breakthroughs in the Winter Paralympics. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics, the Chinese wheelchair curling team won the first gold medal in the history of the Winter Paralympics for the Chinese team. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics, the Chinese sports delegation achieved an excellent result of 18 gold, 20 silver and 23 bronze medals, ranking first in the gold medal and medal tables of the Winter Paralympics for the first time. The continuous improvement of the level of competitive sports for the disabled is inseparable from the unremitting efforts of athletes with disabilities. Their tenacious figures also inspire more people to bravely pursue their dreams and achieve a brilliant life.

At the Tokyo Paralympics, the Chinese women's wheelchair basketball team created the best result in the history of the event with a precious silver medal. In order to "change the color of the medal", the team constantly adjusted the lineup and strengthened the technical and tactical shortcomings. In May this year, the team also played warm-up matches with several foreign women's wheelchair basketball teams to boost morale in preparation for the Paralympics. "We are ready, and we hope that the girls can achieve good results in the Paralympics without regrets." said Chen Qi, head coach of the Chinese women's wheelchair basketball team.

Perfect protection

The achievements of the Chinese sports delegation in the Paralympic Games and the Winter Paralympic Games are like a mirror, reflecting China's high attention to the cause of people with disabilities. With more effective protection of the rights and interests of people with disabilities, the development concept of "equality, participation and sharing" in China's cause of people with disabilities has been better realized, the sense of gain, happiness and security of people with disabilities has continued to improve, and the cause of sports for people with disabilities has also continued to reach new levels.

Sports play an important role in promoting the physical and mental health of people with disabilities and their integration into society. Weightlifter Guo Lingling became disabled due to illness when she was young. When she was confused, weightlifting helped her face life better. "Because of weightlifting, I made more friends, saw different scenery, and found the meaning of life." Guo Lingling said.

Recently, the 14th Disabled Fitness Week was launched, and various places carried out a variety of sports and cultural activities according to local conditions. In Nanjing, Jiangsu, the track and field promotion activities were very popular, building a platform for disabled people to display, communicate and interact; in Xingyi, Guizhou, the disabled marathon running event attracted nearly a thousand people to participate, guiding more disabled people to go out of their homes, enjoy sports and gain happiness.

From the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Disabled Persons to the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Construction of Accessible Environments, the protection of the rights and interests of disabled persons in sports has become increasingly complete. Disabled persons' sports have been incorporated into national strategies such as national fitness, healthy China, and a strong sports nation. Through the promotion of community rehabilitation and fitness sports projects for disabled persons and the government's purchase of sports and fitness services, the development of disabled persons' sports fitness and competition activities has been promoted.

Over the years, China has continued to contribute to the development of sports for people with disabilities around the world. The successful hosting of the Beijing Paralympic Games, the Winter Paralympic Games, the Hangzhou Asian Para Games and other events have led to the increasing standardization, applicability and significance of urban barrier-free environments, and the continuous expansion of the team of social sports instructors for people with disabilities, creating a good atmosphere for helping the disabled and integrating the disabled and the healthy.

As our country attaches more and more importance to the sports for people with disabilities, more disabled people are paying attention to and participating in sports. The foundation for the development of sports for people with disabilities is also being continuously consolidated, giving Chinese disabled athletes more confidence to participate in international competitions.

(Xue Xiaotian participated in the interview and writing)

(People's Daily Overseas Edition)