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Hosting Winter Paralympics promotes China's sports of disabled people, says Zhang Haidi

Xinhua, July 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Hosting the 2022 Winter Paralympics would promote the development of China's sports of disabled people, said Zhang Haidi, vice president of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee here on Monday.

"In China, We have 6800 registered athletes with disabilities take part in domestic and international competitions. What we really want to do is to give more opportunities to athletes with disabilities to take part in sports in China, also in international events to give them more international perspective," said Zhang, who is also the president of China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF).

Zhang, renowned as China's Helen Keller, also encouraged Chinese athletes with disabilities to challenge themselves, demonstrate their unique charisma and try their best in the games.

"I would like to tell you that I myself had taken part in an international competition for disabled people in 1994. The event was the women's 10-meter wheelchair air pistol. I will always remember the tough training of sports, but also the joy of achieving the result." added Zhang.

According to Zhang, there is a big gap between the development of winter sports for people with disabilities in China and that of developed countries. Since its debut show at the 2002 Winter Paralympics held in Salt Lake City, United States, Chinese Paralympic delegation has not won medals yet.

"But we indeed made some progress. In Sochi last year, we won the fourth place in the wheelchair curling, the best result for our athletes in Winter Paralympics," added Zhang.

Following the hosting of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Beijing launched a joint bid with neighboring Zhangjiakou City to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paraolympic Games last November.

Bidding for the Winter Paralympics can help promote the hardware buildup of winter sports for the disabled, Zhang noted.

"After the Beijing Olympics, our hardware for disabled people undergone a huge development. The development in Beijing and China is lighting-fast. I am sure if Beijing got the chance to host the Paralympics, it will be another big step for the hardware buildup in China," Zhang added.

As a member of the the delegation of the Beijing 2022 bidding committee, Zhang has arrived Saturday afternoon in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur, where the host city for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will be unveiled on July 31.

Zhang said:"Certainly, each country taking part in the bid wants to win, I think the opportunity belongs to everybody. The one who do the best job and preparation deserves to win."

The 128th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will be held from July 31 to August 3. The host city for the 24th Winter Olympic Games in 2022 will be unveiled on the first day.

2008 Summer Olympics host Beijing competes against Almaty, Kazakhstan in the race. Endi