Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong unveils the Mascot.
(BEIJING, Sept. 6) -- Fu Niu Lele, the Official Mascot of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, was unveiled at a grand ceremony at the foot of the Great Wall's Badaling section Wednesday night to mark the two-year countdown to the opening of the Paralympic Games.
Among the attendees were Zeng Qinghong, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and vice president of the People's Republic of China; Liu Qi, member of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, secretary of Beijing Municipal CPC Committee and president of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG); Chen Zhili, state councilor and first vice president of BOCOG; Philip Craven, president of International Paralympic Committee (IPC); Liu Peng, minister of General Administration of Sport, president of Chinese Olympic Committee and executive president of BOCOG; Wang Qishan, deputy secretary of Beijing Municipal CPC Committee, mayor of Beijing and executive president of BOCOG; and Deng Pufang, president of China Disabled Persons' Federation and executive president of BOCOG..
At 20:30, the unveiling ceremony officially started. Liu Qi made an enthusiastic speech. The mascot, he said, "along with the emblem featuring the elements of the Sky, Earth and Man, will integrate the fine Chinese tradition of 'striving to become stronger and great virtues carrying great responsibilities' with the theme slogan of the Beijing Paralympic Games -- 'One World One Dream.'" It will also send best wishes of the Chinese people to people with a disability in all parts of the world: Happiness, Peace and Good Luck.
Liu said the Chinese government and people have made a solemn promise to stage a high-level Paralympic Games with distinguishing features with an aim to display the to-be-the-best spirit of the disabled people and push forward the Paralympic Movement and other undertakings.
With the strong support of the government and people, the Paralympic preparatory work has been progressing steadily as planned in the areas of competition organization, marketing and venue construction over the last five years, he said, adding that in line with the requirement of "concurrent preparation, equal splendor," BOCOG will continue its effort to bring a high-level Paralympics with distinguishing features
In his speech Deng Pufang said that the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games offers a new opportunity for the promotion of the cause for the disabled persons and the unveiling of the Beijing Paralympic Games mascot signifies that the Paralympic preparatory work is going in depth.
"I believe that the mascot, as an important image of the Beijing Paralympic Games, will help knit closer the hearts of all those who are interested in the Paralympic Games and will play an important role in delivering a high-level Paralympic Games with distinguishing features and in promoting the cause for the disabled persons in the world," Deng said.
"I hope that the mascot will be loved by the people with a disability across the world and by all others. May the mascot bring good luck to us all!" Deng added.
On behalf of the IPC Governing Board and all members of the Paralympic family, President Philip Craven extended appreciation to Liu Qi, Deng Pufang and the staff of BOCOG for their contribution to the unveiling of the Paralympic mascot.
"The unveiling ceremony once again demonstrates the continuing success" of BOCOG in preparing for the Paralympic Games, said Craven, adding that he felt excited as he had a chance to preview the mascot.
As Vice-President Zeng Qinghong touched the device to unveil the mascot, sparks of fireworks in front of the stage rose high. The large image of Fu Niu Lele at the beacon tower of the Great Wall turned bright, corresponding with the giant Olympic logo at the Badaling section where the Olympic theme slogan of "One World One Dream" flashed. All lamps featuring the mascot on the slope lit up and the fireworks bust into a shower of glowing and eye-catching bits along the Badaling area.
On the screen of the stage, the image of Fu Niu Lele appeared along with the firework sparks, and the strong beats of theme music -- "Song of the Mascot" resounded through the skies. People who dress up like Fu Niu Lele, and children of different countries as well as disabled kids holding mascot toys poured onto the stage, where the joyful atmosphere reigned.
The Beijing Paralympic Games mascot is modeled after a lovely young cow, whose name is Fu Niu Lele. The mascot serves as an image ambassador of friendship that China offered to the Paralympic Games and the world.
Fu Niu Lele carries rich Chinese national style and cultural characteristics, embodies rich Olympic spirit, and contains the indomitable combatant spirit of Paralympians and their resolution to make self-reliance efforts. It gives expression to the harmonious co-existence between man and nature and fully conforms to Paralympians' character of striving to make progress and the Beijing Paralympic Games concepts of "Transcendence, Equality and Integration."
Following the ceremony, the audience viewed a show of animation cartoons depicting Fu Niu Lele. Sport and art stars as well as a number of disabled artists stepped on to the stage, joining the ranks of jubilant singers and dancers. Flowers, colored flags, mascots and their cartoon images variegated the scene of joy and jubilation.
After the unveiling of the mascot, licensed mascot products and stamps will go on sale nationwide in the following days.
The ceremony was attended by an audience of 1,000 plus, including leading officials of the relevant departments of CPC Central Committee and State Council, representatives of military troops in Beijing, concerned departments of Beijing municipal government, leading officials of democratic parties and foreign countries' diplomatic envoys.
