The Beijing Paralympics opens up an important path for the disabled to enter into society, said former president of World Blind Union (WBU) and vice chairman of Swedish Blind Association (SRF) Kicki Nordstrom recently.

Beijing Paralympics brings important contribution to social and promotes developing of the Paralympics movement in the whole world, Kicki Nordstrom, who is immediately past president of WBU, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

She said she was particularly impressed by the high standards of preparative work for Paralympics when she visited Beijing as WBU president two years ago. Success of the magnificent sports meet held in Beijing now is meeting her expectations.

"Sporting facilities, housing facilities and transport services in the Paralympic Village are well prepared. The disabled gain honor and respect during the Beijing Pralympics. Chinese audiences cheered for the disabled athletes," said Nordstrom.

She was so exciting to know that Swedish disabled athletes won some gold medals at the Games, although no one gold medal for the Swedish team in Beijing Olympics. "The disabled are equally capable of winning cheering, gold medals and honors," she added.

Nordstrom had worked in SRF for 25 years. She said Paralympics plays an important role for eliminating discrimination to the disabled in the world, adding that it provides a platform for communications. "Beijing Paralympics makes progress for all the disabled to be close to an exceptive society which is more fair and non- discriminative," she said.

"The Being Paralympics as well as the Beijing Olympics is important to promote relationships and communications in the world, " she said, "Both they are brilliant. We disabled believe that we' ll play more exciting performance in the future."

Nordstrom admired China Disabled Person's Federation. She said the disabled need an organization to federate and coordinate for expressing voices and vindicate rights. She believed China will develop better in the areas of public service, creating employment and education for the disabled after the Beijing Paralympics.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2008)