BEIJING -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday paid a morale-boosting visit to the country's Paralympic athletes, urging them to "strive to become strong and fight for the best."
With 16 days to go until the opening ceremony in Beijing, Hu, accompanied by Vice President Xi Jinping, went to the training center for Paralympic athletes in a northeastern suburb of the capital in the morning.
Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with an athlete at the training center for Paralympic athletes in Beijing, China, August 20, 2008. [Xinhua]
胡锦涛在中国残疾人奥林匹克运动管理中心游泳馆勉励即将参赛的运动员为祖国赢得光荣。新华社记者鞠鹏摄
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More than 300 Chinese athletes competing in the Sept. 6-17 Games were busy training at the center, the country's first national-level training facility for disabled athletes.
The 547-member China delegation, the largest in history, will participate in all 20 events during the upcoming Paralympics.
Hu watched the training of the athletes in track and field, football, swimming and wheelchair basketball.
He cheered on Li Duan who had lost his sight 12 years ago in an accident, as he practiced long jump under the guidance of his coach. Li won two gold medals at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
Chinese President Hu Jintao cheers on swimmers at the training center for Paralympic athletes in Beijing, China, August 20, 2008. [Xinhua]
胡锦涛在北京市什刹海街道残疾人温馨家园同残疾人朋友一起唱歌。新华社记者饶爱民摄
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"I heard you used to play basketball and switched to long jump after an accident. It must have not been easy for you." Hu said while holding the blind man's hands.
"A soldier could be injured, but he remained a soldier. An armyman could fall down, but his will was unbeatable," Li, a soldier in service, responded in high spirit. He said he would fight for better performances at the Beijing Games.
Chinese President Hu Jintao communicates with a disabled man who is surfing on the Internet in Shichahai community home for the disabled in Beijing, China, August 20, 2008. [Xinhua]
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Hu also shook hands with other track and field athletes, and looked over the artificial limbs and racing wheelchairs they used.
"I was here to cheer for you before the opening of the Games, and I was moved to see all of you striving to become stronger and training very hard." He wished them all good luck during the Games.
Hu also watched football players afflicted with cerebral palsy in training. They were the first-such group from China to represent the country in the Paralympics.
He wrote on a football "striving to become strong and fighting for the best," after the 12 athletes gave the president a football with their own signatures.
Chinese President Hu Jintao holds a football after writing "striving to become strong and fighting for the best" on it at the training center for Paralympic athletes in Beijing, China, August 20, 2008. [Xinhua]
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He said he hoped they would not only fight in the upcoming competition, but also in their daily lives.
At the swimming stadium, Hu said he believed the athletes would fully demonstrate their abilities and bring some glory for the country. Chinese swimmers had performed well in previous events.
Hu opened a game for wheelchair basketball players, and applauded the frequent baskets by the athletes. He urged players to put participation before winning and enjoy the fun of the Games.
Hu also visited a downtown community home for the disabled after he left the training center to find out about the community services provided for the ordinary handicapped population in the capital.
At the special home set in a courtyard, he chatted with the disabled who were painting, writing, surfing on the Internet, playing Chinese chess or receiving recovery exercises.
He also joined some mentally-challenged people who were learning to make pizzas and dumplings, and another 20 handicapped making handicrafts such as bracelets and cloth paintings.
"The country will take more measures and make more efforts to improve the living conditions to let all the handicapped have a happy life in their mother country," Hu pledged.
中国日报网环球在线消息：8月的北京，到处花团锦簇、喜气洋洋。北京奥运会赛事正在紧张进行，北京残奥会筹办工作进入最后关键阶段。
8月20日，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席胡锦涛和中共中央政治局常委、中央书记处书记、国家副主席习近平实地考察了中国体育代表团备战北京残奥会和北京市社区残疾人服务情况。
位于北京市顺义区的中国残疾人奥林匹克运动管理中心，是我国首个国家级残疾人专用体育训练基地。即将参加北京残奥会的300多名中国运动员正在这里积极备战。
9时30分，胡锦涛一行抵达管理中心，首先听取了中国体育代表团备战情况和管理中心建设情况汇报。这次中国体育代表团共547人，将参加北京残奥会全部20个大项、295个小项的比赛，是我国历次参加残奥会规模最大的代表团。中国残疾人奥林匹克运动管理中心的设计和建设，充分考虑了残疾人体育运动的特殊需求，体现了残奥会安全、文明、绿色的理念。
田径场上，残疾人运动员有的在练习接力赛跑，有的在进行轮椅竞速。现役军人、盲人运动员李端正在教练的引导下训练跳远。胡锦涛走到沙坑边驻足观看，高兴地为他鼓掌。12年前，一次意外事故造成李端双目失明，但他刻苦训练、顽强拼搏，在雅典残奥会上夺得男子跳远项目两枚金牌。
训练间隙，总书记同李端聊了起来。
“听说你原来是打篮球的，受伤后又改练跳远，很不容易！”总书记握住李端的手说。
“战士可以受伤，但受伤的战士还是战士；军人可以倒下，但军人的意志不可以垮掉！我还要争取在北京残奥会上取得好成绩。”李端回答。
看到总书记来到田径场，运动员和教练员们兴奋地围拢过来。胡锦涛同大家亲切握手，仔细察看运动员使用的智能假肢、竞速轮椅等高技术产品，详细询问训练情况。胡锦涛对大家说，在北京残奥会即将开幕的时候，我们特地来看望大家，为你们加油鼓劲。看到你们自强不息、顽强训练，我们非常感动。希望大家继续发扬挑战自我、奋勇争先的精神，刻苦训练、科学训练，在北京残奥会赛场上展现中国残疾人运动员的竞技水平和良好风貌。
北京残奥会上，我国运动员将首次参加脑瘫足球比赛。中心足球场上，12名脑瘫足球队员分成两组，正在进行对抗训练。盘带、过人、射门……看到队员们训练认真，技术娴熟，总书记的脸上露出了笑容。
训练告一段落，队员们将一个集体签名的足球送给总书记。胡锦涛高兴地接过来。
“能不能请您给我们签个名？”队长吴刚对总书记说。
“好！”胡锦涛说着，拿起笔在一个足球上一笔一画地写下“自强不息奋勇争先”8个字。
签完名，总书记把这个足球送给队员们。他说：“我送给你们8个字，希望你们在残奥会赛场上，在今后的人生道路上，始终做到自强不息、奋勇争先！”
游泳是我国在残奥会上的优势项目，这次我国派出了41名运动员参加北京残奥会游泳比赛。胡锦涛来到游泳馆看望运动员。
泳池里水花飞溅，盲人运动员杨博尊、双上肢残运动员江福英、单上肢残运动员王晓福等正在训练。
训练间隙，总书记在泳池边同运动员们亲切交谈，一一询问他们的训练和生活情况。胡锦涛说，奥林匹克运动为残疾人参与社会、实现梦想提供了重要舞台。我相信，在这个舞台上，你们一定能充分展示自己的境界和能力，为残疾人赢得尊重，为祖国赢得光荣。
随后，胡锦涛又走进综合馆，观看轮椅篮球队的训练情况。轮椅篮球队的运动员、教练员热情邀请总书记为分组比赛开球。
“好啊！”胡锦涛爽快地答应。随着总书记轻轻将篮球抛起，训练比赛开始了。球场上轮椅竞逐，队员们球技不凡，篮球频频被掷入篮筐。胡锦涛站在场边，和大家一起为运动员喝彩。
训练比赛结束后，总书记走到运动员、教练员中间，指着墙上的横幅说：“‘我参与、我自信、我奉献、我快乐’这12个字，完整地表达了北京残奥会的宗旨。希望大家把参与放在比胜负更重要的位置，完全放松地、全身心地投入比赛，亲身体验参加体育活动带来的健康和快乐。”
总书记语重心长的话语，让在场的运动员、教练员备受感动。大家纷纷表示，一定不辜负总书记的期望，在赛场上展现出中国残疾人自尊、自信、自强、自立的良好形象。
在管理中心考察过程中，胡锦涛对教练员和工作人员说，你们从事的是一项崇高而又艰辛的事业。长期以来，你们默默无闻、忘我工作，为我国残疾人体育事业发展作出了重要贡献。党和人民感谢你们。北京残奥会即将开幕，全国人民热切期盼着北京残奥会能和北京奥运会一样精彩。希望同志们继续精心做好各项备战工作，为在北京残奥会上取得比赛成绩和精神文明双丰收而奋发努力。
离开中国残疾人奥林匹克运动管理中心，胡锦涛一行又来到北京市西城区什刹海街道残疾人温馨家园，考察这个社区为残疾人康复、教育、就业、开展文体活动等提供服务的情况。
温馨家园设在一座仿古四合院里。胡锦涛一到这里，当地负责人就向总书记介绍了北京市残疾人事业发展和温馨家园建设情况。得知北京市为残疾人事业发展作出了很大努力并取得了明显成效，总书记十分高兴。
胡锦涛走进一间间活动室，同正在写字作画、上网浏览、接受心理辅导的残疾人亲切交谈，了解他们在这里活动的情况。在棋牌室，总书记认真观看几位盲人下象棋，俯下身子向他们了解盲棋规则。在绘画室，总书记仔细欣赏两位聋人小画家的人物素描，夸奖她们的作品既形似又神似。在康复训练室，总书记同正在做训练的残疾人拉家常，详细询问设施情况和治疗效果。在生活技能训练室，总书记同几位智障残疾人一起做比萨饼、包饺子，鼓励他们增强信心，不断提高生活技能。
电脑培训室里，一位盲人正通过特殊语音软件上网了解北京奥运会的比赛情况。胡锦涛询问他这种软件好不好用、平时上网都关注哪些内容。这位盲人一一作了回答。他对总书记说，现在社区服务很好，残疾人生活起来很方便，这要感谢党和政府。胡锦涛说，残疾人是社会大家庭中最需要关爱的群体。帮助残疾人是党和政府的责任。我们要采取更多的措施，下更大的气力，进一步推进残疾人事业发展，让所有残疾人都能在祖国的怀抱里幸福生活。
手拉手职业康复站里，20多位残疾人正在串手链、编中国结、做布糊画。胡锦涛来到这里，在场的残疾人热烈鼓掌，欢迎总书记的到来。胡锦涛坐在大家中间，兴致勃勃地和他们一起动手做中国结。一位残疾人高兴地给总书记戴上鲜红的中国结。屋子里顿时充满了欢声笑语。
胡锦涛对身边的残疾人说，看到你们在温馨家园很开心、很快乐，我们非常高兴。尊重残疾人、爱护残疾人、帮助残疾人，是社会文明进步的重要标志。我相信，只要全社会人人都伸出一双手、个个都献出一份爱，残疾人的生活就一定会越来越美好，我们的社会就一定会越来越和谐。
分别的时刻到了。总书记和残疾人朋友们一道唱起歌来，动听的歌声在温馨家园上空久久回荡……
回良玉、刘淇、令计划、王沪宁、邓朴方等参加考察。
From China Daily
