An official with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said on Friday that some delegations and athletes have brought guide dogs to the ongoing Beijing Paralympic Games, and so far there has been no complaint about any inconvenience.
David Grevemberg, IPC executive director of Sport and IF Relations, said at a press conference that the guide dogs brought by the delegations and athletes to the Beijing Paralympics have entered China smoothly, and have received nice care during their stay in the Paralympic Village.
"It is also important and spectacular to see some athletes walking with guide dogs at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games," Grevemberg said, adding that an atmosphere should be fostered to encourage the disabled people to mobilize themselves independently.
Wang Wei, executive vice president and secretary-general of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games, said at the same press conference that the Chinese government has paid much attention to improving accessibility for the disabled, including the guide dog issue.
China amended its law on protection of the people with disabilities in April this year. The newly-amended law stipulates that guide dogs for the disabled people are allowed in public places as long as their owners observe relevant rules.
China's first center to train hearing dogs for deaf people will be set up at Beijing Union University with financial support from Samsung, an official partner of the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, according to a Thursday announcement from the firm.
Hearing dogs are trained to distinguish between different types of sounds, such as telephone rings, a knock at the door or a fire alarm. They then touch a special part of their owner's body to indicate the particular sound.
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2008)