The flame for the Beijing Paralympic Games will be lit on August 28 at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, as announced here in Beijing on Friday, August 22.
The nine-day Paralympic torch relay will be held from August 29 until the start of the 13th Paralympic Games, Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice-president of BOCOG, said at a press conference.
To meet the requirements of hosting equally splendid Olympic and Paralympic Games, Jiang said, the unique torch relay for the Paralympics will display the spirit of self-reliance, spread knowledge of the Paralympic Games, and raise awareness of people with disabilities.
Under the theme of "Transcendence, Integration and Equality," a total of 850 torchbearers will go on a journey of over 13,000km through an eleven-city route that has been designed to include areas that represent the modernity and ancient timelessness of China.
Temple of Heaven - the torch lighting
The lighting ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic torch relay will take place at the Temple of Heaven at 10:30 a.m., August 28, 2008. The optical focus of a concave mirror will be used to light the Paralympic flame.
The Temple of Heaven is where ancient Chinese offered sacrifices to heaven. The lighting ceremony is in line with the Chinese concept of "integrity of man and heaven" and embodies a pursuit of "harmony between man and nature." It is also in conformity with the emblem of the Beijing Paralympics, which features "sky, earth and human beings."
Two simultaneous routes
Two separate relay routes will begin in Beijing and will meet again on September 5 to continue the flame's tour of the capital before the lighting of the main cauldron at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, on September 6.
The "Ancient China" route covers the historic cities of Xi'an, Hohhot, Changsha, Nanjing and Luoyang and showcases the long history of Chinese civilization and the beautiful panorama of the host country. The "Modern China" route passes through Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian and highlights China's post reform and opening-up achievements.
Each leg of the Paralympic relay will be similar to that of the Olympic torch relay. There will be an opening and closing ceremony in each city, and each torchbearer will run 50 meters. Sixty torchbearers will run a total of three kilometers in one-and-a-half hours in each city. As Beijing is the host city, the relay distance and time as well as the number of the torchbearers will be more than those of other cities.
"Sky, Earth, Human Beings" - torch relay symbols
The emblem of the torch relay follows that of the Paralympic Games - "Sky, Earth and Human Beings." The Paralympic torch relay has adopted the pattern, style and design of the Beijing Olympic torch relay, but the Paralympic torch, torch lamp, cauldron, torchbearers' and escort runners' uniforms will use the emblem of the Beijing Paralympic torch relay.
Quality torchbearers selected
People with disabilities will account for about 20 percent of the 850 torchbearers who have been selected by the relay cities, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), and Paralympic sponsors. Most of the selecting bodies have already completed their selection work.
These torchbearers include former medalists of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, other disabled athletes, Chinese nationals devoted to the care and support of people with disabilities, Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games volunteers, and representative members from organizations that support people with disabilities.
Timely information on Olympic website
The organizers will release official information including text, pictures, television, and audio signals for the Paralympic relay. All of these services are provided to the international media free of charge. Every day the official signal producing team will produce a minimum of five minutes of video content, ten pictures, five minutes of audio content and a press release in both Chinese and English. The official television signal will also be released via the global satellite network.
The torch relay's official website will be open for those who would like to obtain more information about the relay. The official pictures, audio content and press content, as well as TV signal forms will also be issued by the website. The website guarantees a timely release of information about torch relay arrangements.
Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.
Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.
Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.
When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.
Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.
Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.
Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.
When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.
Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.
In the ancient culture of China, there is a grand tradition of spreading good wishes through signs and symbols. Each of Fuwa symbolizes a different blessing -- and will honor this tradition by carrying their good wishes to the children of the world. Prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck will be spread to every continent as Fuwa carry their invitation to Beijing 2008 to every part of the globe.
At the heart of their mission -- and through all of their work -- Fuwa will seek to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit. Dedicated to helping Beijing 2008 spread its theme of One World, One Dream to every continent, Fuwa reflect the deep desire of the Chinese people to reach out to the world in friendship through the Games -- and to invite every man, woman and child to take part in the great celebration of human solidarity that China will host in the light of the flame in 2008.
In China's traditional culture and art, the fish and water designs are symbols of prosperity and harvest. And so Beibei carries the blessing of prosperity. A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year and a good life.
The ornamental lines of the water-wave designs are taken from well-known Chinese paintings of the past. Among Fuwa, Beibei is known to be gentle and pure. Strong in water sports, she reflects the blue Olympic ring.
Jingjing makes children smile -- and that's why he brings the blessing of happiness wherever he goes. You can see his joy in the charming naivety of his dancing pose and the lovely wave of his black and white fur. As a national treasure and a protected species, pandas are adored by people everywhere. The lotus designs in Jingjing's headdress, which are inspired by the porcelain paintings of the Song Dynasty (A.D.960-1234), symbolize the lush forest and the harmonious relationship between man and nature. Jingjing was chosen to represent our desire to protect nature's gifts -- and to preserve the beauty of nature for all generations. Jingjing is charmingly naïve and optimistic. He is an athlete noted for strength who represents the black Olympic ring.
In the intimate circle of Fuwa, Huanhuan is the big brother. He is a child of fire, symbolizing the Olympic Flame and the passion of sport -- and passion is the blessing he bestows. Huanhuan stands in the center of Fuwa as the core embodiment of the Olympic spirit. And while he inspires all with the passion to run faster, jump higher and be stronger, he is also open and inviting. Wherever the light of Huanhuan shines, the inviting warmth of Beijing 2008 -- and the wishful blessings of the Chinese people -- can be felt. The fiery designs of his head ornament are drawn from the famed Dunhuang murals -- with just a touch of China's traditional lucky designs. Huanhuan is outgoing and enthusiastic. He excels at all the ball games and represents the red Olympic ring.
Monday, September 1, 2008
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