Ask many people in the West what the para in Paralympics stands for, and they may hesitate, wondering whether it is something to do with paralysis, or whether it means parallel, as in games that run alongside the Olympics. It is the second, para as in paramedics. These are the Parallel Olympics.
However, in China the Games have been translated erroneously as the "Can Aoyun", or the Disabled Olympics. It's an easy mistake, of course, but it does nonetheless reflect the fact that China's level of awareness when it comes to disability is not as sensitive as it might be.
We're hearing a lot about China's efforts to help people with disabilities, but in fact they've suffered terrible discrimination for years. I know one excellent linguist who is entirely self taught, but was not allowed to attend university because of her hunch back. I know a teenage girl who is a member of the national troupe of disabled entertainers. She's become something of a star, singing sweet songs from her wheelchair, but she's been treated heartlessly as her condition deteriorates by the very officials charged with helping those with disability.
Still, we went to the Opening Ceremony in the Bird's Nest, and joined a crowd of about ninety thousand people there to witness another brilliantly choreographed spectacle. When the Chinese team emerged into the arena, the crowd went wild.
History moves in mysterious ways, and perhaps nationalism will do as much for disability awareness in China as anything else. I don't know who first dreamed up the Paralympics, but it is an entirely brilliant concept to stage something so challenging on the back of the Olympics. Crowds are already enthused, stadiums built, and a whole new world of achievement is presented seamlessly after the main event.
We have seen big crowds at events, tickets seem to have sold well. Security is less oppressive than for the Olympics, and the sky is still blue – there are many Paralympic pleasures to be had.
I've been interested to watch the reactions of my children, who are as enthused about the Paralympics as about the Olympics. It occurs to me that children are much closer to the idea of games, and understand that all games are constructed from fairly arbitrary rules designed to handicap the players. What, after all, is the difference between a three-legged race, in which competitors have to race despite a handicap, and the 50km walk, in which competitors have to race whilst never taking both feet from the ground at the same time, and basketball played in wheelchairs or blindfold?
