More than a hundred blind people have gathered in the Center for the Disabled in Beijing. On Wednesday, they attended an activity to welcome the Paralympics, one designed especially with them in mind.
About 100 Olympic related models are on display, as well as their symbolic buildings around the country. Some volunteers brought bricks from the Great Wall and an Olympic torch. Explanations are in Braille. The most popular models are the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube.
A visitor said that,"The Bird's Nest is similar to what I've imagined. I raise birds, and the nest is almost the same as my birds' home."
Another visitor said, "I wish the Paralympics a great success, and all athletes have good performance. The torch is great. I'm very excited, as if I were there."
A lack of sight is no barrier to enthusiasm for the Olympics and the Paralympics. During the Olympics, some NGOs had volunteers narrate the action when the Games were shown on television. It proved very popular. Many blind people say though they can't see, they still feel the Olympic atmosphere and want to cheer on the athletes in person.
(CCTV August 29, 2008)
