Mr. Marius Berlemann, General Manager of Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., welcomed all guests onsite with a heartwarming speech. He said: "On the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we organize this wheelchair basketball campaign, aiming to encourage people with disabilities to actively participate in sports.
As the organizer of REHACARE INTERNTIONAL and REHACARE SHANGHAI, we aim to support the development of the rehabilitation industry in China and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities with the mission of "Driving Inclusion", REHACARE SHANGHAI is dedicated to building a professional communication platform for people with disabilities and other rehabilitation needs in China by orgainzing year-round inclusion events and annual rehabilitaiton exhibition."
During the event, a panel discussion on "Diversity and Inclusion in Sports" was held. Six distinguished guests had an in-depth discussion on the topic of inclusion. "December 3rd this year was the 31st International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It aims to raise society's understanding of people with disabilities, and to further increase awareness about the protection of dignity, welfare, and interest of people with disabilities. It has significantly promoted the development of the needs of people with disabilities." Zhang Weijia, supervisor of the judging committee of the Special Association of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, said, "Sports is a great way for people with disabilities to integrate into society and demonstrate their resilience. Sports can also provide a window to the general public to better understand people with disabilities. The attitude towards people with disabilities is a sign of social civilization."
Lu Hongqin, an athlete of the Chinese women's sitting volleyball team, champion of the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, and the 2012 London Paralympic Games, said: "Sitting volleyball has changed my life. As an athlete with disabilities, being able to join the Olympic Games is not only a challenge to the limitations of human physical fitness, but also a challenge to the limitations of the human spirit." Lu Hongqin suffered from a high fever and became disabled in her right foot when she was one month old and thought she could never play sports until she joined the sitting volleyball team in 1999. The self-confidence, self-reliance and self-improvement spirit of the team members deeply moved and influenced her. She said: "The training process was very tough, everyone had countless scars on their hands, but none of my teammates thought about giving up, because this was a hard-won opportunity for us to have the highlight of life. Considering everything, I am very happy that we won the games and medals."
Yao Fang, gold medal winner of the 2012 London Paralympic Games women's foil fencing class B competition and the Chairman of Shanghai Jinshan Disability Association, said: "I am very proud to have the opportunity to pass on the resilience of Chinese people with disabilities to the world. A society where integration of people with disability and healthy people is possible, has arrived. I hope that friends with disabilities, will step out of their homes, show their talents, and integrate more into society, like the athletes who participated in the wheelchair basketball game today. Meanwhile, it is not only in sports that they can show their talent and spirits, but there are also many other skills they can learn, such as baking, hand weaving, pottery and so on."
Gu Cixia, the 2022-2023 captain of the Zhejiang Haihang Team of the Lions Club International, extended great support to this event along with volunteers from the Lions Club International. He said: "As a person with disability, I have always been supported by the party and the people. Seeing the performance by the two dancers on wheelchair, made my heart surge, and also made me ponder deeply that life is not only a struggle to survive, but life could also be colorful and meaningful! I'm very honored to be a member of the Zhejiang Haihang Team of the Lions Club International. For the rest of my life, I hope to inspire more friends with disabilities to a accessible life, where people are connected."
Ke Shuichang, a national resilience model, national technical expert, and founder of Jinchang Public Welfare, said: "At the peak of my life, a car accident left my spine transected. When I was labeled as a person with disability, I was very desperate. I couldn't imagine spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Fortunately, I live in Shanghai, and I'm very grateful to the party and the government for building accessible facilities, so that I can travel freely. In addition, communication is also very important. Today, I communicate face-to-face with my peers, discussing the integration of people with disability and healthy people. It is a very good manifestation of social progress."
The most exciting part of the event was the wheelchair basketball game. Professional athletes from the Shanghai wheelchair basketball team had a 3-on-3 contest. Dribbling, turning around, zipping through, braking and shooting. The "bang bang" sound of the basketball hitting the ground, the friction of the wheelchair changing direction rapidly, and the shouts of people cheering in the arena brought the event to its most exciting moment of the day. All attendees were thrilled.
Usually in confrontations throughout the game, it is inevitable for athletes to be knocked over by their wheelchairs during an offense or defense move, but as long as conditions permit, they quickly get up and immediately re-join the game. This fighting spirit moved and inspired everyone present. Mr. Wang from the Shanghai wheelchair basketball team became disabled at the age of 3, by contracting osteomyelitis. He started playing wheelchair basketball when he was 20 years old, and 20 years later, he hasn't looked back since. He said: "Life is long, you have to be positive. A person who keeps on exercising will naturally become positive." After this hearty contest, it was time for the wheelchair basketball experience session. The spectators who watched the game geared up and went into the field one after another, experiencing firsthand " Diversity and Inclusion in Sports".
REHACARE.com; Source: Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
