Source: Xinhua
Beijing, February 28 (Xinhua) — The Beijing Winter Paralympic Games will open on March 4, and athletes in various sports are stepping up preparations for the upcoming competitions.
Athletes from China, Norway, the Netherlands, Argentina, Chile, Slovakia and other countries have come to the mountain training in the past two days.
‘I train with able-bodied people back home,’ said Petersen, Norway’s winter Paralympic alpine skiing champion. ‘The fact that the paralympic and Winter skiing events are on the same track gives me great anticipation for the upcoming races.’
Peterson was interviewed by Xinhua News Agency
“We have done well in the World Cup this season and this time the goal is to win a gold medal.” Nicky, coach of the Dutch disabled alpine ski team. Compared with the past two Paralympic Winter Games, the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games have the best facilities so far, he said.
Chinese disabled cross-country skiing and biathlon teams finish their 55-day training at the National Snow Events training base in Baiyin, Northwest China’s Gansu Province, Sunday morning, leaving for the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games. The players arrived at the training base in early January and have been training daily at the base’s track and firing range. Even during the Spring Festival, athletes train normally and race against time to prepare.
Members of a training team take part in a training exercise at baiyin National Snowsports Training Base in Northwest China’s Gansu province, Jan. 13, 2018. Xinhua/Du Zheyu
Guo Yujie said she will compete in three biathlon events and one short distance event in cross-country skiing. After days of training in Gansu, she felt well prepared. “I will try my best and hope all athletes can achieve their ideal results.” She said.
Eager to achieve good results at home is the firm belief of every Chinese disabled athlete as they enter the preparation cycle of the Beijing Winter Paralympics.
At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, China’s wheelchair curling team won its first ever gold medal at a Paralympic Winter Games. The team has been training intensively in recent years to prepare for the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. “The pyeongchang victory is history, and I started from zero to Beijing.” The slogan stands out in the curling Hall of the National Ice Sports Training Center for the disabled in Shunyi, Beijing.
Wheelchair curler Wang Haitao (front) throws a pot at the National Ice Sports Training center for the disabled. Xinhua/Peng Ziyang
Members of China’s wheelchair curling team say they want to turn pressure into motivation and play their own games. The Chinese wheelchair curling team is expected to take part in official training on March 3.
The Total number of Chinese sports delegation for the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games is 217, including 96 athletes, will participate in curling, ice hockey, alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and biathlon, all 6 events, 73 events.
Reporter: Wang Junbao, Wang Yong, Yao Youming, Liu Yangtao, Cheng Nan, Yang Fan, Dong Yixing, Ji Jiadong, Zhao Jiantong, Gao Meng, Zheng Zhi, Tan Chang, Li Dian, Tai Sicong, Zhang Xiao
