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23 November 2005, 03:26 pm

IPC President Meets Premier Of China

Disabled Sailing News

Beijing, China

On 21 November, IPC President Sir Philip CRAVEN and some members of the newly elected IPC Governing Board met with the Premier of China WEN Jiabao.

CRAVEN commented, 'We spoke about the Paralympics and I really sensed the passion for sport in Beijing and China. The Premier confirmed that the government and BOCOG are giving equal priority to the Paralympics and Olympics. The Paralympic Games are a vehicle for social change and change of perceptions and China wishes to use elite Paralympic sport as the vehicle to achieve this.'

On the occasion of the meeting, Premier WEN Jiabao was bestowed with the Paralympic Honour. The Paralympic Honour is bestowed on high-ranking dignitaries, officials and other persons outside the Paralympic Movement who have contributed significantly to the Movement. The Paralympic Order, the highest tribute a person connected with the Paralympic Movement can achieve, was recently awarded to former International Foundation for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) President Ian HARRISON (GBR).

On 22 November, CRAVEN continued to Shanghai, where he visited a Paralympic Sports Training Centre and watched several training sessions in various sports, among others the Athens 2004 Gold medallists, the Women's Chinese Sitting Volleyball Team. He also had the opportunity to play some Wheelchair Basketball and then enjoyed dinner with the athletes in the canteen.

IPC