China marks 33rd national day of assisting disabled persons

On May 21, which marked China’s 33rd national day of assisting people with disabilities, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to Rehabilitation International, an international organization that was celebrating its centenary in Beijing alongside the China Disabled Persons’ Federation. 

Marking the occasion, President Xi extended his greetings to all people with disabilities, their relatives, and the dedicated personnel serving them across the nation. He also expressed gratitude to all international organizations and people from all walks of life who demonstrate care and support for the cause of empowering people with disabilities in China.

He praised Rehabilitation International for working tirelessly to safeguard the dignity of people with disabilities, protect their rights and improve their well-being.

China pays particular attention to the well-being of people with disabilities, Xi said, noting the country will continue to improve the social security and service systems for them.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the Rehabilitation International Centennial Celebration on Sunday.

On China’s 33rd national day of assisting disabled persons on Sunday, Xi extended his greetings to all individuals with disabilities, their relatives, and the dedicated personnel serving them across the nation. He also expressed gratitude to all international organizations and personages from all walks of life who demonstrate care and support for the cause of empowering people with disabilities in China.

Rehabilitation International is an international organization of great influence in regard to the cause of persons with disabilities, and has worked tirelessly in safeguarding the dignity of such individuals, protecting their rights and improving their well-being, said Xi. He added that China actively supports the organization’s work.

China pays particular attention to the well-being of people with disabilities in the country, Xi said, noting the country will continue to improve the social security and service systems for these people and promote the all-around development of relevant programs.

China is willing to join hands with all countries worldwide to promote international exchanges and cooperation on disability, and continue improving the health and well-being of humankind, Xi said.

Hosted by Rehabilitation International and organized by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the centennial celebrations of Rehabilitation International kicked off in Beijing on Sunday.

Beijing’s Winter Paralympics: a symbol of human rights

This article by Keith Lamb, originally published in CGTN, examines the preparations that have been made in China for the 2022 Winter Paralympics, and explores how these connect to a growing understanding in China of disability rights, along with an expanding infrastructure to support those rights.

Holding both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in Beijing is unprecedented. Also, it is no lesser an achievement that Beijing will hold both the Summer and Winter Paralympics. If the Olympics represent the harmonious bringing together of global diversity, united in the pursuit of excellence by competing for gold, then the Paralympics goes a step further by including excellence from all members of society.

Some see the Paralympics as a charitable sideshow to the Olympics but this is not the case. Even in the Olympics, athletes are separated in different divisions. The 100-metre sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica’s gold, in Tokyo 2020, is no lesser an achievement than gold in the men’s division.

Likewise, athletes in combat sports are divided by weight. Welterweight boxer Floyd Mayweather would easily be floored by a “run-of-the mill” heavyweight but he is nevertheless classed, in terms of skill, as one of the best of all time.

Continue reading Beijing’s Winter Paralympics: a symbol of human rights