PARALYMPICS / News

SA Paralympic officials praise Beijing efforts

Xinhua
Updated: 2008-09-06 14:47

 

With several days out from the opening of the Beijing Paralynmpics, some foreign participants have already started to enjoy the fantastic life and say yes to the Athletes' Village.

"You have done a great job in the Beijing Olympic and Paralympics, I think you must be proud of it,"  hailed Cinio Branco, manager of the South African cycling Paralympic team on Tuesday.

"Some things are not what we have expected, maybe a little bit warm but I don't see any pollution. The organisers must have put every effort in it."

The Village, which was also shared by the Olympics athletes, officially opened on Saturday, and has already welcomed 4,272 athletes and officials as of September 1. The rush hour will be expected in the next two days. Over 4,000 athletes will compete in the September 6-17 Paralympic Games.

Branco, who had worked as an advisor to the Athens Paralympics, gave all thumbs up to the Beijing Paralympics.

"The organisers have mobilized tens of thousands of people into it and it did worked. The service here is really good and the working staff are helpful. There are obvious culture and language differences between us,  but it seemed that they have overcome these barriers, it is amazing," he said. "And I don't see any places in the village that the wheelchairs are unable to reach."

"The security here is also brilliant," added Grenville Scullard, South Africa cycling coach. "If there is something wrong with the slightest detail on your pass, you will be shut out (of the village)."

"The guards are playing low key here, they don't carry guns in a way that you feel uncomfortable, and everything looks in control and natural. It is professional," Scullard said.

South Africa, which has only won one silver medal in the just concluded Beijing Olympics, sent 61 athletes to the Paralympics and six of them will compete in cycling.

"After some paper work in the past few days, we have already started training in Laoshan, and I think the venue is really world class. We do want to walk around in Beijing, do some shopping and sightseeing, but cycling is a tough event and we have to save the best for it and after it is finished, we will kind of relax and do some extra stuff," Scullard said.

"We will face some strong challengers in the event, but we have gold hopefuls, at least we will try to push them on the podium."

 

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