International media acclaims Paralympics opening ceremony

Source: Xinhua | 09-07-2008 10:35

BEIJING, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Televisions in South Korea, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Cambodia, Germany and many other countries broadcast live the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics and acclaimed the grand event.

South Korea's YTN television said that the magnificent opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics once again moved the world after the conclusion of the Beijing Olympic Games.

The 12-day Beijing Paralympics is of the largest scale in the history of the Games with the participation of more than 7,000 athletes, officials and coaches from 147 countries and regions, it said, adding that the opening ceremony is a sports pageant that mankind overcame obstacles to realize equality.

It added that after four years of waiting, the athletes will try to challenge themselves and move the people.

In Turkey, the TRT3 television broadcast the whole opening ceremony live. Its anchor said that as torch-bearer Hou Bin, China's triple Paralympic high jump champion with only one leg, pulled himself up along a hanging rope to lit the cauldron for the Games, it evoked more understanding, respect and care for the disabled.

The Beijing Paralympics is a pageant for the disabled from across the world and it will surely arose people's love for life, promote the humanitarianism and the cause for the disabled, it added.

In the United States, the "phenomenal" Beijing Paralympics opening ceremony was webcast live on UniversalSports.com, the first time for the Paralympics to be webcast live in the country.

The hosts of the webcast praised the "magical" ceremony as "up to expectations in every way possible."

They said that China "is truly committed to making an outstanding game for the Paralympians" and the Chinese "have put out an extraordinary effort."

Universal Sports is co-owned by NBC Universal and Intermedia Partners.

When the crowd burst into a roar that sustained minutes, chanting "Go China!" as the Chinese delegation entered the arena, the hosts said people could feel "how proud the Chinese are, and should be."

"They have done a great job," one said. "That's a proud nation."

The hosts also praised the spectators.

"Many Paralympics of the past have not been well attended by crowds. That will not be the case over the next 12 days... We'll probably see some of the best crowds in the stadiums ever."

In addition to the online video coverage, Americans will be able to watch Beijing Paralympics programming through the Universal Sports TV cable channel starting Oct. 8 and on network NBC on Oct. 18.

Italian national TV Rai tre and sports TV Rai Sport piu Sunday also broadcast live the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics, saying the performances were marvelous.

After successfully hosting the 2008 summer Olympiad, Beijing has once again become the focus of the world as the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics unveiled, an anchor said.

Disabled athletes from around the world spent a splendid night in the Bird's Nest and the Beijing Paralympics will be as successful as the Beijing Olympics, the anchor noted.

With the hosting of the Beijing Paralympics, China would continue to showcase its image and bring more surprise and joy to the world, Gazzetta dello Sport's correspondent Pierangelo Molinaro wrote in an article posted on the newspaper's website.

A record 4,000-plus athletes from 147 countries and regions, 10 times the figure at the Games' debut in Rome 1960, attended the opening ceremony.

Vittoria Mancini, head of the Italy-China Friendship Association, said she was touched by the opening ceremony, in which marvelous performances were staged and unparalleled organizing work was revealed.

Mancini said the opening ceremony showcased China's respect and love for the disabled, and the performances were as wonderful as the just-concluded summer Olympics.

During the duration of the Beijing Paralympics, the Rai tre and Rai Sport piu will also open special columns respectively to cover the proceedings of the sports gathering.

Spain's National Television broadcast live the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics, hailing the event as "spectacular, passional and unforgettable."

The flame was lit up again in the Bird's Nest and the disabled athletes across the world have great enthusiasm for the Games, it reported.

Editor:Xiong Qu