The 2008 Paralympic Games mascot Fu Niu Lele was unveiled Wednesday during a ceremony in front of the Great Wall in Beijing exactly two years before the 2008 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Lele, which means “happiness”, is the name of the cow that will invite people from across the globe to come to Beijing to enjoy the Paralympic Games.
According to the Paralympic Committee Web site the design of the mascot absorbs the style of the Chinese culture, embodying the harmony between man and nature and resembling the traditional design styles unique to China’s folk engraved prints and folk toys. The characteristics of a cow, like diligence, determination, courage and strength, also incorporate the spirit of Paralympians competing in the Paralympic Games.
Beijing wants the city to be barrier free during the Paralympic Games said Beijing 2008 organizers. Zhang Qiuping, Paralympic Games department head of Beijing 2008 said, “for the public transportation such as (the) subway, the government is working on non-barrier facilities”.
According to Zhang, subway stations under construction will be built with non-barrier facilities while newly built ones will be partly reconstructed. He said the government is studying how to add non-barrier facilities to the old subway stations.
Organizers will be using buses used for disabled persons to transport the Paralympic athletes.
Tang Xiaoquan, vice president of the Beijing 2008 said, “during the Games the disabled athletes will ride on buses with wheelchair access. The audience can take public transportation to whichever stadium they want to go”, he added.
Meanwhile the Beijing government has said a police helicopter would begin patrolling the skies starting next June to boost security reports state media.
About 30 sharpshooters have already been chosen and trained from the ranks of the Beijing police to deal with any kidnappings, riots, or serious accidents during the Games.
