Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria on the sidelines of the Beijing Paralympics on Wednesday.
In their talks in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, Xi said Sino-Sweden ties had progressed steadily since the two countries forged bilateral ties in May 1950.
The increasingly stronger cooperation in various fields had brought substantial benefits to the two nations, he added.
Xi said China would like to work closely with Sweden on the basis of mutual respect, equality and shared benefits.
He briefed the princess on the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, as well as the country's achievements in ensuring the rights and benefits of the disabled.
The princess said the frequent high-level visits between officials of the two countries in recent years had produced fruitful results.
She spoke of her dedication to philanthropic initiatives and how she would like the two countries to work more closely in this field.
She also congratulated China on its successful hosting of the Olympics and wished for an equally-wonderful Paralympics.
Source: Xinhua
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
"10-goal rule" in full effect for football 7-a-side Beijing Paralympics
In the football 7-a-side competition at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Russia defeated the Netherlands 12-1 but was recorded as 10-1 in the competition summary table and pool standings as a result of the implementation of the "10-goal rule".
The "10-goal rule" has been in full effect for the football 7-a-side competition at the Beijing Paralympics.
According to CPISRA rule 19.3.4, "a maximum number of 10 goals scored will be allowed to be counted for goals scored in any single match."
The rule is applied in matches where a team scores more than 10 goals. In these cases, the actual goals scored will be reflected in the match result, while the maximum of 10 will be used for the competition summary table.
Like the case of the match between Russia and the Netherlands on Wednesday, the match result was 12-1, but in the competition summary table and pool standings, the result of 10-1 and a goal difference of 9 will be used for the pool and tournament standings calculation.
The spirit of rule is that of avoiding strong teams to qualify for the latter rounds of the tournament by virtue of goal-difference against a weaker team from the same pool.
Source:Xinhua
The "10-goal rule" has been in full effect for the football 7-a-side competition at the Beijing Paralympics.
According to CPISRA rule 19.3.4, "a maximum number of 10 goals scored will be allowed to be counted for goals scored in any single match."
The rule is applied in matches where a team scores more than 10 goals. In these cases, the actual goals scored will be reflected in the match result, while the maximum of 10 will be used for the competition summary table.
Like the case of the match between Russia and the Netherlands on Wednesday, the match result was 12-1, but in the competition summary table and pool standings, the result of 10-1 and a goal difference of 9 will be used for the pool and tournament standings calculation.
The spirit of rule is that of avoiding strong teams to qualify for the latter rounds of the tournament by virtue of goal-difference against a weaker team from the same pool.
Source:Xinhua
British rowing star eyes Paralympic success
After producing the world's best time as early as in the heats of the Beijing Paralympic Games, rower Tom Aggar will need a shiny gold medal to become one of Britain's brightest Paralympic stars.
The reigning world champion, Aggar blitzed the heat field to post a 5 minutes 12.25 seconds in the men's single sculls on Tuesday, bettering his own previous world-best time of 5:13.13.
"I expect the finals to be fierce. I don't know if any of the guys was holding anything back in the heats, but it will be hard," said the 24-year-old on Wednesday. "I will just go out there and give it my all."
"The best thing is that it gives me extra recovery and puts pressure on everyone else that didn't get through," he added.
The top finisher of each heat will advance directly to Thursday's finals while the remaining crews will have to race again in Wednesday's repechages which provide last chances of making it to the finals.
"My biggest opponent will probably be Australia's Dominic Monypenny who was second at last year's World Championships," Aggar used to comment on his rivalry in his blog.
"He is looking to retire after this year and has been keeping a low profile, not racing that much. He will definitely be the person I will be watching the most."
Aggar's transition from rugby player to potential Paralympic rowing gold medallist has been the most arduous journey the Londoner has made in his young life.
Having played rugby for his university, Aggar was also harbouring thoughts years ago of trying out for the Royal Marines.
But Aggar's fate was completely changed in 2005 when he was left paralysed from the waist down after suffering a serious spinal injury in an accident, about which he did not want to talk.
"I always like challenges, but I had never thought about taking on rowing before the accident.
"It seems like an upper-class sport to me. Getting into disability rowing almost two years ago, I didn't know what the dedication would be like, but the standards we are expected to achieve require complete dedication."
As part of his rehabilitation, Aggar took up rowing and competed at the 2006 national indoor championships using the rowing machine.
The sport, where the boat seat is fixed and the scullers use only their arms, is one of the most demanding disciplines but Aggar has taken to it like a duck to water.
At the World Rowing Championships in Munich last year, Aggar ripped his way to gold in the adaptive men's single scull in 5:13.13, two seconds ahead of two-time world champion Monypenny. Aggar also set a new world record in the process.
After making a successful switch to the water, the University of Warwick graduate is certainly hoping to stir some splash in the Beijing Paralympics where adaptive rowing is making its first appearance. However, he will not take it for granted.
"I'm not getting too caught up with medal talk. I'm just focusing on rowing well and doing the things I know will make me go fast, rather than the outcome," he said.
"It might be too easy to get carried away or get complacent and I have to keep in mind the task at hand.
"There is a good spirit in the team but everyone is keeping their feet on the ground and reminding each other what we train for and the sacrifices we have made to get to this stage and why we are here.
"The biggest event I had competed in before the Paralympics was the World Rowing Championships but this is massive, although it seems really well organised and the facilities have been impressive.
"There has been a lot to take in, even at the village, so we are just trying not to get too distracted.
Source:Xinhua
The reigning world champion, Aggar blitzed the heat field to post a 5 minutes 12.25 seconds in the men's single sculls on Tuesday, bettering his own previous world-best time of 5:13.13.
"I expect the finals to be fierce. I don't know if any of the guys was holding anything back in the heats, but it will be hard," said the 24-year-old on Wednesday. "I will just go out there and give it my all."
"The best thing is that it gives me extra recovery and puts pressure on everyone else that didn't get through," he added.
The top finisher of each heat will advance directly to Thursday's finals while the remaining crews will have to race again in Wednesday's repechages which provide last chances of making it to the finals.
"My biggest opponent will probably be Australia's Dominic Monypenny who was second at last year's World Championships," Aggar used to comment on his rivalry in his blog.
"He is looking to retire after this year and has been keeping a low profile, not racing that much. He will definitely be the person I will be watching the most."
Aggar's transition from rugby player to potential Paralympic rowing gold medallist has been the most arduous journey the Londoner has made in his young life.
Having played rugby for his university, Aggar was also harbouring thoughts years ago of trying out for the Royal Marines.
But Aggar's fate was completely changed in 2005 when he was left paralysed from the waist down after suffering a serious spinal injury in an accident, about which he did not want to talk.
"I always like challenges, but I had never thought about taking on rowing before the accident.
"It seems like an upper-class sport to me. Getting into disability rowing almost two years ago, I didn't know what the dedication would be like, but the standards we are expected to achieve require complete dedication."
As part of his rehabilitation, Aggar took up rowing and competed at the 2006 national indoor championships using the rowing machine.
The sport, where the boat seat is fixed and the scullers use only their arms, is one of the most demanding disciplines but Aggar has taken to it like a duck to water.
At the World Rowing Championships in Munich last year, Aggar ripped his way to gold in the adaptive men's single scull in 5:13.13, two seconds ahead of two-time world champion Monypenny. Aggar also set a new world record in the process.
After making a successful switch to the water, the University of Warwick graduate is certainly hoping to stir some splash in the Beijing Paralympics where adaptive rowing is making its first appearance. However, he will not take it for granted.
"I'm not getting too caught up with medal talk. I'm just focusing on rowing well and doing the things I know will make me go fast, rather than the outcome," he said.
"It might be too easy to get carried away or get complacent and I have to keep in mind the task at hand.
"There is a good spirit in the team but everyone is keeping their feet on the ground and reminding each other what we train for and the sacrifices we have made to get to this stage and why we are here.
"The biggest event I had competed in before the Paralympics was the World Rowing Championships but this is massive, although it seems really well organised and the facilities have been impressive.
"There has been a lot to take in, even at the village, so we are just trying not to get too distracted.
Source:Xinhua
Final berths decided at Beijing Paralympics rowing event
Wednesday's repechages of all four boat classes have determined the rest finalists for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games rowing regatta at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.
In the first repechage of the day, Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus and Svitlana Kupriianova from Ukraine advanced to Thursday's final of the women's single sculls after finishing first and second respectively in slight headwind conditions.
The rowers were far too good for third-place finisher Agnese Moro from Italy and the rest of the field.
China's outstanding qualification results at the first-ever Paralympic rowing regatta continued when Zhang Jinhong took the second repechage in this event with 13.34 seconds ahead of reigning world champion Claudia Santos from Brazil.
The four rowers will in Thursday's final join 2006 world champion Helene Raynsford from Britain and Ukraine's Svitlana Kupriianova, who earned direct entry after finishing top of respective heat on Tuesday.
While Zhang led from the start, Santos had a great battle with Martyna Snopek of Poland for second place and a lift in stroke rate over the final 200 meters saw the Braizilian advance to the medal race.
"With unfavourable wind condition today, I had to make a change to my planned tactics. But I really feared that I might make a lot of mistakes. Anyway, I decided to challenge myself and I made it," said Zhang.
"I am happy that I beat Santos twice. Before the race I told my coach not to let me know whom I was going to compete against as that could make me more focused.
"I will not think too much about the final but hope the wind will get weaker."
With Britain's world champion and world-best time setter Tom Aggar and Ukraine's Oleksandr Petrenko already in Thursday's final of the men's single sculls, competition for the remaining four places was fierce.
Tan Yeteng of China and Ronald Harvey of the United States staged a tense two-way battle for the entire length of the 1000m course to take the first two berths of the men's repechage races. Little separated the frontrunners for most of the journey, but a powerful effort by Tan with 200m to go made him victorious by a length and a quarter.
They'll be joined in Thursday's final by Israel's Eli Nawi and Australia's Dominic Moneypenny who both improved on lacklustre Tuesday heat rows to give themselves a chance at securing a medal. Nawi was particularly impressive, turning a 4.22 second advantage over the field at the 500m half way mark into a 13.15 second win.
"It's very difficult as Tom Aggar is the champion. He's the king of the river. He's very good, but I won't give up. I am doing just fine if I can only get the silver," said Nawi.
Australia's Kathryn Ross and John Maclean produced one of the most controlled victories of the day when they took out the first repechage of the mixed double sculls over Britain's James Roberts and Karen Cromie with a winning margin of 10.50 seconds.
The two teams advanced to the final along with Repechage 2 first and second place getters Italy and Poland.
In the repechages of the mixed coxed fours, the teams from Britain, the United States, Canada and slightly out-of-form world champions Germany advanced into the final on Thursday.
Source:Xinhua
In the first repechage of the day, Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus and Svitlana Kupriianova from Ukraine advanced to Thursday's final of the women's single sculls after finishing first and second respectively in slight headwind conditions.
The rowers were far too good for third-place finisher Agnese Moro from Italy and the rest of the field.
China's outstanding qualification results at the first-ever Paralympic rowing regatta continued when Zhang Jinhong took the second repechage in this event with 13.34 seconds ahead of reigning world champion Claudia Santos from Brazil.
The four rowers will in Thursday's final join 2006 world champion Helene Raynsford from Britain and Ukraine's Svitlana Kupriianova, who earned direct entry after finishing top of respective heat on Tuesday.
While Zhang led from the start, Santos had a great battle with Martyna Snopek of Poland for second place and a lift in stroke rate over the final 200 meters saw the Braizilian advance to the medal race.
"With unfavourable wind condition today, I had to make a change to my planned tactics. But I really feared that I might make a lot of mistakes. Anyway, I decided to challenge myself and I made it," said Zhang.
"I am happy that I beat Santos twice. Before the race I told my coach not to let me know whom I was going to compete against as that could make me more focused.
"I will not think too much about the final but hope the wind will get weaker."
With Britain's world champion and world-best time setter Tom Aggar and Ukraine's Oleksandr Petrenko already in Thursday's final of the men's single sculls, competition for the remaining four places was fierce.
Tan Yeteng of China and Ronald Harvey of the United States staged a tense two-way battle for the entire length of the 1000m course to take the first two berths of the men's repechage races. Little separated the frontrunners for most of the journey, but a powerful effort by Tan with 200m to go made him victorious by a length and a quarter.
They'll be joined in Thursday's final by Israel's Eli Nawi and Australia's Dominic Moneypenny who both improved on lacklustre Tuesday heat rows to give themselves a chance at securing a medal. Nawi was particularly impressive, turning a 4.22 second advantage over the field at the 500m half way mark into a 13.15 second win.
"It's very difficult as Tom Aggar is the champion. He's the king of the river. He's very good, but I won't give up. I am doing just fine if I can only get the silver," said Nawi.
Australia's Kathryn Ross and John Maclean produced one of the most controlled victories of the day when they took out the first repechage of the mixed double sculls over Britain's James Roberts and Karen Cromie with a winning margin of 10.50 seconds.
The two teams advanced to the final along with Repechage 2 first and second place getters Italy and Poland.
In the repechages of the mixed coxed fours, the teams from Britain, the United States, Canada and slightly out-of-form world champions Germany advanced into the final on Thursday.
Source:Xinhua
Veteran powerlifters repeat glories at Beijing Paralympics
\Veteran powerlifters made a strong show on Wednesday at the Beijing Paralympic Games.
Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike of Nigeria, a three-time Paralympian, claimed the women's 48kg category gold with a world record. The 31-year-old made her Paralympic debut in 2000 Sydney Paralympics, and took a silver in the 44kg category.
Ejike, winner of the women's 44kg category in 2004 Athens Paralympics, broke the world record of the 48kg category twice to win the gold. Her winning mark was 130kg, while the previous world record was 118kg held by Bian Jianxin of China.
"I love the feeling of breaking the world record," she said, who is also the 44kg world record holder. "Before I came here I planned to break the world record," Ejike said.
"In Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, I was competing in the 44kg category and I broke the world record three times. This time I moved to the 48kg category, as I did in Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, I set a world record, broke it, set it again and broke it again."
"My secret is discipline and hard working," she added.
Russia's Olesva Lafina effortlessly lifted 112.5 and 115kg in her first two attempts to win the silver medal, but made a no-lift in her third attempt at 122.5kg. The bronze went to Souhad Ghazouani of France in 112.5kg.
In the men's 52kg category, Chinese Wu Guojing, silver medalist of the event in 2004 Athens Paralympics, lifted 175kg to win a gold at home.
The 45-year-old, oldest in the Chinese powerlifting team, tried 180kg in his third attempt, but failed.
"The gold is really special for me," said Wu. "I paid a lot and gained helps from a lot of people. Our efforts are not wasted."
Osama Abd Elmonem Elserngawy of Egypt took the silver, while Narong Kasanun of Thailand took the bronze.
Eatma Omar Omar of Egypt defended her title in the women's 56kg category. The three-time Paralympian made a hat-trick of new records, who lifted 135kg in her third attempt to break the 131kg record she had set in her second attempt, which in turn broke the 130kg Paralympic record she set at the Athens 2004 Games. In her fourth attempt, Omar lifted 141.5kg to break the world record.
"I'm very happy today," said Omar, winner of the 44kg category in 2000 Sydney Paralympics. "It's my aim of coming here. I didn't imagine I can break the world record."
Irina Kazantseva of Russia finished second while Siow Lee Chan of Malaysia took the third.
In the women's 52kg category, Veteran Amalia Perez of Mexico took the limelight as she lifted 128kg to win the gold and broke the Paralympic record.
It is also the third Paralympics for Perez, who was both the silver medalist in the women's 48kg in 2004 Athens Paralympics and in the 52kg in 2000 Sydney Paralympics respectively.
Tamara Poopalnaya of Russia finished second, while Samkhoun Anon of Thailand took the bronze.
Tomorrow will see the competitions of men's 56kg and 60kg category.
Source:Xinhua
Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike of Nigeria, a three-time Paralympian, claimed the women's 48kg category gold with a world record. The 31-year-old made her Paralympic debut in 2000 Sydney Paralympics, and took a silver in the 44kg category.
Ejike, winner of the women's 44kg category in 2004 Athens Paralympics, broke the world record of the 48kg category twice to win the gold. Her winning mark was 130kg, while the previous world record was 118kg held by Bian Jianxin of China.
"I love the feeling of breaking the world record," she said, who is also the 44kg world record holder. "Before I came here I planned to break the world record," Ejike said.
"In Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, I was competing in the 44kg category and I broke the world record three times. This time I moved to the 48kg category, as I did in Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, I set a world record, broke it, set it again and broke it again."
"My secret is discipline and hard working," she added.
Russia's Olesva Lafina effortlessly lifted 112.5 and 115kg in her first two attempts to win the silver medal, but made a no-lift in her third attempt at 122.5kg. The bronze went to Souhad Ghazouani of France in 112.5kg.
In the men's 52kg category, Chinese Wu Guojing, silver medalist of the event in 2004 Athens Paralympics, lifted 175kg to win a gold at home.
The 45-year-old, oldest in the Chinese powerlifting team, tried 180kg in his third attempt, but failed.
"The gold is really special for me," said Wu. "I paid a lot and gained helps from a lot of people. Our efforts are not wasted."
Osama Abd Elmonem Elserngawy of Egypt took the silver, while Narong Kasanun of Thailand took the bronze.
Eatma Omar Omar of Egypt defended her title in the women's 56kg category. The three-time Paralympian made a hat-trick of new records, who lifted 135kg in her third attempt to break the 131kg record she had set in her second attempt, which in turn broke the 130kg Paralympic record she set at the Athens 2004 Games. In her fourth attempt, Omar lifted 141.5kg to break the world record.
"I'm very happy today," said Omar, winner of the 44kg category in 2000 Sydney Paralympics. "It's my aim of coming here. I didn't imagine I can break the world record."
Irina Kazantseva of Russia finished second while Siow Lee Chan of Malaysia took the third.
In the women's 52kg category, Veteran Amalia Perez of Mexico took the limelight as she lifted 128kg to win the gold and broke the Paralympic record.
It is also the third Paralympics for Perez, who was both the silver medalist in the women's 48kg in 2004 Athens Paralympics and in the 52kg in 2000 Sydney Paralympics respectively.
Tamara Poopalnaya of Russia finished second, while Samkhoun Anon of Thailand took the bronze.
Tomorrow will see the competitions of men's 56kg and 60kg category.
Source:Xinhua
Confidence keeps Paralympic riders going for higher goals
Born without arms due to thalidomide damage, German rider Bettina Eistel rode amazingly with horse Fabuleux 5 at the Beijing Paralympic equestrian venue in Hong Kong's Shatin and took a bronze.
Eistel, born in 1961, controls the reins with both her mouth and her toes and has established dominance over the horse. The bronze came from Grade III Individual Dressage contest in the on-going Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
In 2004 Athens Paralympics, Eistel won two silver and a bronze medals.
Eistel is one of the many Para-Equestrian athletes trying to fulfill their riding goals with a unique strength and determination.
Yip Sui Hong of Hong Kong, 39, has difficulty in using his legs because of cerebral palsy. The Grade Ia rider, the most severely disabled, began riding with a visit to the local Riding for the Disabled Association at the age of eight.
"My disability changed my life and I have accepted it. I can try to be the best given my potential and talent," said Yip.
Yip said, "Most disabled people in Asia see themselves as victims and I always thought it is not about the disability, it's all about the mentality, the belief, the confidence."
Many Para-Equestrian athletes started riding as able-bodied people, but various accidents left them paralyzed. They are trying very hard to overcome misfortune and got back in the saddle. They believe in their abilities despite their disabilities.
Philippa Johnson, a Grade IV rider, is South African leading rider who won two silver medals at Athens 2004 - in the Individual Championship and in Individual Freestyle. She also took home a silver and a bronze from the World Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships in Hartpury, England, 2007.
She was involved in a car accident in October 1998. She was encouraged by her long-time family friend Katrina Puttick - now her coach and the South African Team Manager - to return to riding.
Johnson's teammate Marion Milne rode as an able-bodied athlete in Jumping and Dressage before her spine was injured by a bullet in an attempted hijack when she was 17. The incident left her in a wheelchair, but she was encouraged to get back in the saddle.
"That was a completely different experience. You don't feel everything is the same as before the accident. So it was a huge step to take and a very big challenge. I took a very long time just to find the balance in my walk and it was a lot of work," Milne said.
Altogether, 73 riders from 28 countries and regions are competing in the five-day Equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games at the Shatin Equestrian Venue in Hong Kong.
Source:Xinhua
Eistel, born in 1961, controls the reins with both her mouth and her toes and has established dominance over the horse. The bronze came from Grade III Individual Dressage contest in the on-going Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
In 2004 Athens Paralympics, Eistel won two silver and a bronze medals.
Eistel is one of the many Para-Equestrian athletes trying to fulfill their riding goals with a unique strength and determination.
Yip Sui Hong of Hong Kong, 39, has difficulty in using his legs because of cerebral palsy. The Grade Ia rider, the most severely disabled, began riding with a visit to the local Riding for the Disabled Association at the age of eight.
"My disability changed my life and I have accepted it. I can try to be the best given my potential and talent," said Yip.
Yip said, "Most disabled people in Asia see themselves as victims and I always thought it is not about the disability, it's all about the mentality, the belief, the confidence."
Many Para-Equestrian athletes started riding as able-bodied people, but various accidents left them paralyzed. They are trying very hard to overcome misfortune and got back in the saddle. They believe in their abilities despite their disabilities.
Philippa Johnson, a Grade IV rider, is South African leading rider who won two silver medals at Athens 2004 - in the Individual Championship and in Individual Freestyle. She also took home a silver and a bronze from the World Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships in Hartpury, England, 2007.
She was involved in a car accident in October 1998. She was encouraged by her long-time family friend Katrina Puttick - now her coach and the South African Team Manager - to return to riding.
Johnson's teammate Marion Milne rode as an able-bodied athlete in Jumping and Dressage before her spine was injured by a bullet in an attempted hijack when she was 17. The incident left her in a wheelchair, but she was encouraged to get back in the saddle.
"That was a completely different experience. You don't feel everything is the same as before the accident. So it was a huge step to take and a very big challenge. I took a very long time just to find the balance in my walk and it was a lot of work," Milne said.
Altogether, 73 riders from 28 countries and regions are competing in the five-day Equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games at the Shatin Equestrian Venue in Hong Kong.
Source:Xinhua
Netizens applaud for spectators' behaviors at Paralympics
Besides the performance of athletes, the behavior of spectators at the ongoing Beijing Paralympics has attracted the praise of Chinese netizens.
Since the Paralympics kicked off on Saturday, a large number of netizens have expressed their appreciation about spectators at leading online forums and their own blogs.
An accident during the Judo competition on Monday was widely mentioned. A French vision-disabled athlete crossed the field line and fell down under the judge's desk.
"Thanks to all the spectators. After the French athlete fell down, I didn't hear anyone laugh at him or jeer him in the whole stadium," said a netizen named "Every day is a good day" in his blog at Xinhuanet.com who was at the spot. "Instead, they encouraged him to go back to the competition with their warmest applause."
Netizen "A guest coming from the wind" said in his post at CCTV.com, "During the Beijing Olympics, Chinese spectators won great appreciation for their good behavior. They carry it on in the Paralympics. I'm really proud of them."
"Applause is the best way for spectators to express their respect for athletes. I believe Paralympic athletes will be impressed," said a netizen in the post at People.com, the website of the official People's Daily.
The remark from Nigerian weightlifter Ruel Ishaku proved this. After winning the first weightlifting gold medal on Tuesday, he told the press, "Yes, Yes, I heard people shouting, 'Go, go, go!' A lot of Chinese spectators cheered for me. They encouraged me a lot."
At the leading portal Sina.com, Netizen Xiaoxiaoxing said in a post that it may be rare in the Paralympic history that many stood in line all night to buy the Games' tickets.
"The venue atmosphere is as good as that of the Olympics. This will make Beijing Paralympics stand out," the poster wrote.
Source:Xinhua
Since the Paralympics kicked off on Saturday, a large number of netizens have expressed their appreciation about spectators at leading online forums and their own blogs.
An accident during the Judo competition on Monday was widely mentioned. A French vision-disabled athlete crossed the field line and fell down under the judge's desk.
"Thanks to all the spectators. After the French athlete fell down, I didn't hear anyone laugh at him or jeer him in the whole stadium," said a netizen named "Every day is a good day" in his blog at Xinhuanet.com who was at the spot. "Instead, they encouraged him to go back to the competition with their warmest applause."
Netizen "A guest coming from the wind" said in his post at CCTV.com, "During the Beijing Olympics, Chinese spectators won great appreciation for their good behavior. They carry it on in the Paralympics. I'm really proud of them."
"Applause is the best way for spectators to express their respect for athletes. I believe Paralympic athletes will be impressed," said a netizen in the post at People.com, the website of the official People's Daily.
The remark from Nigerian weightlifter Ruel Ishaku proved this. After winning the first weightlifting gold medal on Tuesday, he told the press, "Yes, Yes, I heard people shouting, 'Go, go, go!' A lot of Chinese spectators cheered for me. They encouraged me a lot."
At the leading portal Sina.com, Netizen Xiaoxiaoxing said in a post that it may be rare in the Paralympic history that many stood in line all night to buy the Games' tickets.
"The venue atmosphere is as good as that of the Olympics. This will make Beijing Paralympics stand out," the poster wrote.
Source:Xinhua
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