Torch relay illuminates grassroots gains

Journey of Winter Paralympic flame highlights how local residents are benefiting from Games

The second day of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic torch relay kicked off at the civic square in downtown Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, on Thursday, with 18 torchbearers running the 1.4-kilometer route.

The civic square is a landmark in Zhangjiakou, offering public fitness facilities, barrier-free devices, and spaces for cultural performances and recreational activities. This leg of the relay, therefore, aimed to highlight how locals benefit directly from the Games.

The Paralympic flame traveled four legs in Zhangjiakou on Thursday morning. Starting from the civic square, it then passed through Thaiwoo Ski Resort and Nuanquan town in Yuxian county, which is renowned for its ancient dwellings and the traditional art of Dashuhua, or "striking iron flowers" on Lantern Festival, before ending at Guanting Reservoir National Wetland Park in Huailai county.

Twelve torchbearers, including former Paralympic champions and individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the fight against COVID-19, ran along a route of nearly 1.2 kilometers on the gentle slopes of Thaiwoo.

The leg aimed to showcase Chinese people's grassroots enthusiasm for ice and snow sports and the strides made by the country in the high-quality development of its winter sports industry.

On Thursday afternoon, the relay left Zhangjiakou for Beijing's Horticultural Expo Park in Yanqing district before arriving at the Olympic Forest South Park inside the closed loop, where 20 representatives of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) were ready to receive the torch for Friday's remaining legs.

In Yanqing, about 120 torchbearers ran the seven-kilometer route-including athletes with disabilities, coaches and care workers who assist disabled people.

They set off from No 1 gate, passed several gardens and pavilions and finally reached the southern square of the China Pavilion, where local residents organized a song and dance performance to celebrate the Paralympics.

"I feel honored to be a torchbearer and proud of the country to be able to host such a grand event. I hope athletes from around the world can achieve good results. The Paralympics show the care for people with disabilities and help them boost their self-worth," said Fu Xiaoyun, director of the Department of Critical Care Medicine of the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University in Guizhou province.

"Today is Ear Care Day and I hope more children with hearing impairment can recover their hearing and speech, and communicate with their families with the help of high-tech equipment such as artificial cochlea, artificial intelligence and brain-computer interface."

At the Olympic Forest South Park, a total of 21 torchbearers, including five with disabilities, participated in the torch relay. Among them were Paralympic gold medalist Martina Caironi and IPC vice-president Duane Kale.

"It's a surprise to me what the opening ceremony will be. But I'm well aware that with my previous involvement with China and Beijing, I know you will deliver a spectacular opening ceremony," said Kale, a former Paralympic swimming champion who was New Zealand's chef de mission at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing.

"It's gonna set the scene for our athletes to compete and showcase the brilliance of their athletic performance. The Chinese government, the public and the organizing committee have done a terrific job. We witnessed two or three weeks ago the Winter Olympics. The venues are spectacular, and we are just so delighted to be here and our athletes can show their sporting performance.

"Sports for us are not just athletic performance. They are about showing the world what persons with disabilities can achieve.

"And for Beijing, we've already witnessed in 2008 how the Paralympics have changed and shaped the society of China and the perceptions of people with disabilities.

"The facilities are very accessible at the Paralympic Village. We could not be more delighted."

On Friday, the torch relay will continue at three locations, including the headquarters of the Beijing 2022 organizing committee (BOCOG) at Shougang Industrial Park.

According to Yan Cheng, director-general of BOCOG's Human Resources Department, the 565 torchbearers were recruited and selected by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), BOCOG, China Disabled Persons' Federation, Beijing and Hebei province. He added that 21 percent of torchbearers are people with disabilities, higher than the IPC's requirement of 15 percent.

During the torch relay, some people with disabilities used exoskeleton robots to help them carry the torch. After months of adaptive training with exoskeleton devices, they can grasp the torch independently and walk upright.

BOCOG deputy secretary-general Xu Zhijun said this conveys the concept of "technology changes life and makes the impossible possible", which is also in line with the torch relay concept of the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games.