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)