2008 Summer Paralympics
{{Short description|Multi-parasport event in Beijing, China}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox Olympic games|2008|Summer|Paralympics|
| image = Beijing 2008 Paralympics logo.svg
| host_city = Beijing, China
| motto = One World, One Dream
(Chinese: 同一个世界 同一个梦想
pinyin: Tóng yīge shìjìe tóng yīge mèngxiǎng)
| nations = 146
| athletes = 3,951
| events = 472 in 20 sports
| opening = 6 September 2008
| closing = 17 September 2008
| opened_by = Hu Jintao
{{small|President of China}}
| closed_by = Philip Craven
{{small|President of the International Paralympic Committee}}
| cauldron = Hou Bin
| stadium = Beijing National Stadium
| summer_prev = Athens 2004
| summer_next = London 2012
| winter_prev = Turin 2006
| winter_next = Vancouver 2010
}}
File:Wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.jpg v South Africa in wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.]]
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games ({{zh|c=2008年夏季残疾人奥林匹克运动会|p=2008 Nián Xiàjì Cánjí Rén Àolínpǐkè Yùndònghuì}}), the 13th Summer Paralympic Games, took place in Beijing, China, from September 6 to 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao. It was first time the new Paralympic logo featured in the Summer Paralympics since its rebranding after the 2004 Summer Paralympics.
3,951 athletes from 146 countries took part,[http://www.paralympic.org/paralympic-games/beijing-2008 "Beijing 2008"], International Paralympic Committee the largest number of nations ever (ten more than the 2004 Games in Athens). Five countries competed for the first time.[http://www.paralympic.ca/page?a=2113&lang=en-CA "CPC announces Canadian team for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in China"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914184559/http://www.paralympic.ca/page?a=2113&lang=en-CA |date=September 14, 2008 }}, Canadian Paralympic Committee, July 8, 2008. As host country, China fielded more athletes than any other country. The slogan for the 2008 Paralympics was the same as the 2008 Summer Olympics, "One World, One Dream" ({{zh|s=同一个世界 同一个梦想|t=同一個世界 同一個夢想}} Pinyin Tóng yīge shìjìe tóng yīge mèngxiǎng, lit. "One World, One Dream"). China dominated the medal count, finishing with 89 gold medals and 211 total medals, more than double the next-ranked NPC in both cases. 339 Paralympic records and 279 world records were broken. International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Philip Craven declared the Games "the greatest Paralympic Games ever."{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/17/content_10062213.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919231139/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/17/content_10062213.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |title=IPC chief: "These are greatest Paralympic Games ever" _English_Xinhua |publisher=News.xinhuanet.com |date=September 17, 2008 |access-date=March 23, 2011}}
Beijing was selected to host the 2022 Winter Paralympics, making it the first city to host both Summer and Winter Games.
Venues
{{2008 Summer Paralympics}}
Image:Birds Nest Cropped.jpg]]
{{Main|2008 Summer Olympics venues| Olympic Green}}
Nineteen competition venues were selected—seventeen in Beijing, one in Hong Kong, and one in Qingdao.{{cite web|url=http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/venues/index.shtml|title=Competition Venues – The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games|publisher=The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad|access-date=July 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726042002/http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/venues/index.shtml|archive-date=July 26, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
- Beijing National Stadium (Bird Nest) - Athletics, Opening and closing ceremonies
- Beijing National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) - Swimming
- Beijing National Indoor Stadium (Fan) - Wheelchair basketball
- Fencing Gymnasium of Olympic Green Convention Centre - Boccia, Wheelchair fencing
- Olympic Green Archery Field - Archery
- Olympic Green Hockey Field - Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side
- Olympic Green Tennis Centre (Flowers) - Wheelchair tennis
- Peking University Gymnasium - Table tennis
- Beihang University Gymnasium - Powerlifting
- China Agricultural University Gymnasium - Sitting volleyball
- Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium - Wheelchair rugby
- Beijing Institute of Technology Gymnasium - Goalball
- Beijing Shooting Range Hall - Shooting
- Laoshan Velodrome - Cycling (track)
- Workers Gymnasium - Judo
- Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park - Rowing
- Triathlon Venue - Cycling (road)
- Hong Kong Equestrian Venues - Equestrian
- Qingdao International Sailing Centre - Sailing
Symbols
=Emblem=
The Games's emblem, "Sky, Earth, and Human Beings" ({{zh|天、地、人}}), was unveiled in July 2004, a multicolored Chinese character "之" ({{zh|zhī}}) stylized as an athletic figure in motion. Its red, blue and green colors represent sun, sky and earth.{{Cite web |url=http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/graphic/n214342413.shtml |title=Beijing Paralympics Emblem – The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games |access-date=July 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720184339/http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/graphic/n214342413.shtml |archive-date=July 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
=Slogan=
The slogan was the same as the 2008 Summer Olympics, "One World, One Dream".
File:Paralympic 2008 Mascot.svg, mascot of the 2008 Summer Paralympics]]
=Mascots=
The mascot was a cartoon cow named Fu Niu Lele ({{zh|福牛乐乐}}), roughly meaning "Lucky Ox 'Happy'".{{Cite web |url=http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/graphic/n214342414.shtml |title=Introduction to the Design of Fu Niu Lele – The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games |access-date=July 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606022419/http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/graphic/n214342414.shtml |archive-date=June 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
=Theme song=
The theme song was "Flying with the Dream" {{zh|c=和梦一起飞}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/paralympics/2008-09/06/content_7005411.htm |title=Beijing Paralympic theme song shows love for life |publisher=Xinhua |date=September 6, 2008 |access-date=September 17, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080929232521/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/paralympics/2008-09/06/content_7005411.htm| archive-date= September 29, 2008 | url-status= live}} It was performed by Chinese-Tibetan singer Han Hong and Hong Kong singer and actor Andy Lau.
Torch relay
{{Main|2008 Summer Paralympics torch relay}}
The torch relay of the 2008 Summer Paralympics started from Tian Tan (Temple of Heaven) on August 28. The flame then gathered before The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿) and followed two routes (the "Route of Ancient China" and the "Route of Modern China"). Both routes returned to Beijing on September 5, and the torch was flamed at the National Stadium during the Opening Ceremony on September 6.
The Games
{{Further2|highlights, medal table, and medal winners}}
=Opening ceremony=
{{Main|2008 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony|2008 Summer Paralympics national flag bearers}}
The opening ceremony took place on September 6, 2008. The pre-ceremony performance was a succession of various musical performances, ranging from military music to folk music and a performance of Ode to Joy.[http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/n214589186.shtml "Full Coverage: The Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906201351/http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/n214589186.shtml |date=September 6, 2008 }}, Xinhua, September 6, 2008. Following a countdown, a fireworks display signalled the beginning of the ceremony proper. The national flag of China was then raised, in accordance with usual protocol, and the national anthem of China performed. Performers wearing suits in bright colours paraded round the stadium, as a welcoming ceremony preceding the athletes' entry. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, the ceremony included a parade of nations, with a flag bearer for each national team. Contrary to Olympic tradition, the national team of Greece did not enter first, as the Paralympic Games traces its roots to Stoke Mandeville rather than Olympia; the host country, as is customary in both Olympic and Paralympic Games, came last. As Chinese is written in characters and not letters, the order of the teams' entry was determined by the number of strokes in the first character of their respective countries' Simplified Chinese names.{{cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/n214508163.shtml |title=Opening Ceremony plan released – The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games |access-date=September 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906055923/http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/n214508163.shtml |archive-date=September 6, 2008 |url-status=dead }} Countries with the same number of strokes in the first character are sorted by those of the next character. This made Guinea (几内亚) the first country to enter as it takes two strokes to write the first character in the country's name (几). Following the athletes' parade, a performance took place, divided into chapters and sub-chapters entitled the "Journey of Space" and "Journey of Life". The sunbird performance entailed Yang Haitao (杨海涛), a singer with a visual impairment, singing about dreams while an acrobat in sunbird costume descended in simulated flight from the air and "awakened the blind singer from his sleep". The ceremony concludes with Hou Bin, the first Chinese paralympian to be three-time champion consecutively in the same event, lifted himself and his wheelchair up on a rope by strength of arms to the top of Beijing National Stadium, where he lit the cauldron to mark the beginning of the Games.Peopledaily. "[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6494720.html Peopledaily.com]." China opens Beijing Paralympic Games in celebration of life and humanity. Retrieved on September 14, 2008.
=Closing ceremony=
{{Main|2008 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony}}
The 2008 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium. It began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time (UTC+8) on September 17, 2008.English People's Daily. "[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90779/90867/6501442.html People's daily]." 2008 Olympics Closing Ceremony – Beijing. Retrieved on September 28, 2008.
=Sports=
The programme of the 2008 Summer Paralympics featured events in 20 sports.{{cite news|title=Paralympics organisers feel London is launchpad for mass-market Games|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/25/paralympics-london-fever-impetus |access-date=3 October 2013 | work = The Guardian|first=Owen |last=Gibson |date=25 August 2012}} The number of events in each sport is noted in parentheses.
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- File:Archery pictogram (Paralympics).svg Archery (9) ({{detailslink|Archery at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg Athletics (160) ({{detailslink|Athletics at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Boccia pictogram (Paralympics).svg Boccia (7) ({{detailslink|Boccia at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg Paralympic cycling ({{detailslink|Cycling at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg Road (30)
- File:Cycling (track) pictogram (Paralympics).svg Track (13)
- File:Equestrian pictogram.svg Equestrian (11) ({{detailslink|Equestrian at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Football 5-a-side pictogram (Paralympics).svg Football 5-a-side (1) ({{detailslink|Football 5-a-side at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Football 7-a-side pictogram (Paralympics).svg Football 7-a-side (1) ({{detailslink|Football 7-a-side at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Goalball pictogram (Paralympics).svg Goalball (2) ({{detailslink|Goalball at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Judo pictogram.svg Judo (13) ({{detailslink|Judo at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Powerlifting pictogram (Paralympics).svg Powerlifting (20) ({{detailslink|Powerlifting at the 2012 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Rowing pictogram.svg Rowing (4) ({{detailslink|Rowing at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Sailing pictogram.svg Sailing (3) ({{detailslink|Sailing at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Shooting pictogram (Paralympics).svg Shooting (12) ({{detailslink|Shooting at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg Swimming (140) ({{detailslink|Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Table tennis pictogram.svg Table tennis (24) ({{detailslink|Table tennis at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Sitting volleyball pictogram (Paralympics).svg Volleyball (2) ({{detailslink|Volleyball at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Wheelchair basketball pictogram (Paralympics).svg Wheelchair basketball (2) ({{detailslink|Wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Wheelchair fencing pictogram (Paralympics).svg Wheelchair fencing (10) ({{detailslink|Wheelchair fencing at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Wheelchair rugby pictogram (Paralympics).svg Wheelchair rugby (1) ({{detailslink|Wheelchair rugby at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
- File:Wheelchair tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg Wheelchair tennis (6) ({{detailslink|Wheelchair tennis at the 2008 Summer Paralympics}})
{{Div col end}}
Rowing made its first appearance in the Paralympics at these games.
=Calendar=
{{2008 Summer Paralympics Calendar}}
=Participating NPCs=
The following National Paralympic Committees sent delegations to compete.[http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/News/Press_Releases/Flagbearers_List_Opening_Ceremony_Final_5_Sept1.pdf Official list] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909184931/http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/News/Press_Releases/Flagbearers_List_Opening_Ceremony_Final_5_Sept1.pdf |date=September 9, 2008 }}, International Paralympic Committee. Macau and the Faroe Islands are members of the International Paralympic Committee, but not of the International Olympic Committee; hence they participate in the Paralympic Games but not in the Olympics.
Burundi, Gabon, Georgia, Haiti and Montenegro participated in the Paralympics for the first time.
Botswana was due to take part, but its single athlete, defending Paralympic champion sprinter Tshotlego Morama, withdrew prior to the Games due to injury. The country's last-minute attempt to field other athletes in her place was rejected, as they did not meet the requirement of having participated in international events.[https://archive.today/20121130125415/http://72.167.255.126/index.php?sid=8&aid=33&dir=2008/September/Friday5 "Botswna locked out of Paralympics"], Mmegi, September 5, 2008
| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;" |
| Participating National Paralympic Committees |
|---|
{{div col|colwidth=16em}}
{{div col end}} |
Medal count
{{Main|2008 Summer Paralympics medal table}}
This table is based on the medal count of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The ranking is sorted primarily by the number of gold medals earned by a National Paralympic Committee. The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals. If countries are still tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically by IPC Country Code.
{{:2008 Summer Paralympics medal table}}
Events highlights
{{Main|2008 Summer Paralympics highlights}}
International [[television]]
- {{flagcountry|Australia}} – ABC1 and ABC2.
- {{flagcountry|Brazil}} – SporTV2 and Terra Networks.
- {{flagcountry|Canada}} – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in English and Société Radio Canada (SRC) in French.
- {{flagcountry|People's Republic of China}} – Chinese Central Television (CCTV) provided coverage on CCTV-1 (opening and closing ceremony), CCTV-5 and CCTV-7 as all direct live telecast transmission.
- {{flagcountry|France}} – Eurosport
- {{flagcountry|Japan}} – NHK's NHK General TV provided coverage on JOAK-1
- {{flagcountry|Azerbaijan}} – AZTV
- {{flagcountry|Norway}} – NRK
- {{flagcountry|Sweden}} – Sveriges Television
- {{flagcountry|Turkey}} – TRT
- {{flagcountry|United States of America}} – Universal Sports
- {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}} – BBC provided coverage on BBC Television's BBC One.
In France, following the Games, Philippe Juvin, national secretary of the governing Union for a Popular Movement, accused national public television network France Télévisions of having practiced "segregation" by providing live coverage of the Beijing Olympics but only ten-minute daily summaries of events, outside prime time, for the Beijing Paralympics. France Télévisions replied that it would take Juvin to court for slander.[http://www.lejdd.fr/cmc/media/200838/paralympiques-l-ump-accuse_150237.html "Paralympiques: L'UMP accuse"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921051711/http://www.lejdd.fr/cmc/media/200838/paralympiques-l-ump-accuse_150237.html |date=September 21, 2008 }}, Journal du dimanche, September 19, 2008.[http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-37006835@7-58,0.html "Jeux paralympiques: France TV va attaquer Juvin (UMP) pour diffamation"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922005046/http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-37006835@7-58,0.html |date=September 22, 2008 }}, Agence France-Presse, September 18, 2008.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080808084152/http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/index.shtml Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Official Site]
- [http://www.paralympic.org International Paralympic Committee]
- [http://www.paralympicsport.tv Paralympic Online Streaming Coverage]
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{{succession box
| title = Summer Paralympics
Beijing
| before = Athens
| after = London
| years = XIII Paralympic Summer Games (2008)
}}
{{s-end}}
{{EventsAt2008SummerParalympics}}
{{NPCin2008SummerParalympics}}
{{Paralympic Games}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Sports competitions in Beijing
Category:Multi-sport events in China
Category:Summer Paralympic Games by year