Participants and delegations will not be charged entry fees at
the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, a leading official from the Beijing
Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG)
revealed.
"This will be the first time in the history of the Paralympic
Games that this has happened," Wang Wei, BOCOG executive vice
president and secretary-general, said yesterday at the
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly held in
Beijing. "Hopefully, this will allow more countries and regions to
take part in this grand celebration and share the happy
moment."
At the same time, Wang stressed again that the Beijing
Paralympic Games would be equally as fantastic as the Beijing
Summer Olympics. "We have set the goal of achieving 'Equal Splendor
for Olympic Games and Paralympic Games'," said Wang. "A Paralympic
Department has been set up in the Organizing Committee to
coordinate the preparation of the Paralympic Games, while other
departments have divisions and staff responsible for the Paralympic
Games."
In March this year, Liu Qi, president of BOCOG, promised to hold
two wonderful Games.
According to Wang, with the consent of the IPC, the Beijing
Paralympic Games will be held from September 6 to 17 in 2008.
"During the Games, 20 sports will be staged, and for the first
time rowing will be an official sport," Wang said. "BOCOG is
committed to providing good quality services in all areas to all
Paralympic athletes, coaches and participants during the Beijing
Paralympic Games."
In terms of the venues for the Paralympic Games, 18 Olympic
venues will be used, including 13 new venues, three temporary
venues, and two renovated venues.
"Of the 18 venues, seven are located in the Olympic Green, five
in the University Area, two in the Western Communities, one in the
downtown area, one in the North Scenic Area, and two venues outside
Beijing, namely Qingdao for sailing and Hong Kong for equestrian
events," Wang added.
China, UN to jointly protect environment in 2008
Olympics
BOCOG and the UN Environment Program (UNEP) signed a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) in Beijing yesterday to promote
environmental protection in staging the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Under the agreement, the UNEP will provide BOCOG with data and
technical resources on environmental issues.
Klaus Toepfer, executive director of the UNEP, said that the MOU
is aimed at helping Beijing with its proposals in areas ranging
from air, water and noise pollution up to transport, landscaping
and the disposal of solid wastes.
"Big sports events always run the risk of burdens on the
environment," said Toepfer at the signing ceremony.
"Let's all join hands and work for a safe and wonderful
environment," he added.
Green Olympics, High-tech Olympics and People's Olympics are the
three concepts Beijing uses to promote the 2008 Games. In line with
the Green Olympics concept, the Chinese capital has been making
great efforts to improve its environment.
The UNEP started cooperating with the International Olympic
Committee a decade ago to make the Olympic Games more
environmentally friendly.
(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2005)