The students attending the performance hold high the Five Olympic Rings and a banner of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games slogan One World, One Dream on Wednesday, September 10, 2008. [Photo CRIENGLISH.com]
More than 200 students and citizens with disabilities gave a performance of Tai Chi ball Wednesday morning near the Bird's Nest stadium to both cheer for the ongoing Beijing Paralympic Games and attempt to enhance public awareness of the sport.
56-year-old Fu Yuzhen attended the performance in her wheelchair. She said she has played Tai Chi ball for more than one year and found that regular practice actually improved her health.
After practicing for about three months, the pain in my foot vanished and later, my eyelids were also healed.
Fu's symptoms were the results of diabetes that she caught seven years ago. The disease worsened about two years ago as her feet started to canker and her left eye couldnt open any longer due to nerve damage.
The doctor had been also pessimistic about her disease, which frustrated the woman. But after constant efforts, she is now confident of a healthy life.
I strongly believe that I can live longer than expected as I feel much better than before I did the exercise. It's easy to practice, especially for the handicapped people like me.
Tai Chi ball is a new and booming sport in China and is popular with senior and handicapped people. Performers have to keep a ball moving on a racket while dancing or spinning their bodies.
As part of a series of programs sponsored by the world's largest mining company, BHP Billiton, the Wednesday's performance tried to raise awareness among disabled students and community residents.
More than 8,000 students throughout the country has taken part in the programs in communities starting from September 2007 and received Tai Chi ball training.
Group Executive and Chief People Officer of BHP Billiton, Karen Wood, remarked after the demonstration that the efforts will continue.
We have been supporting our Chinese partner Huitianyu Center for over two years to raise the awareness of Tai Chi ball and study how it can help people with disabilities. We are also running a number of programs around the country to bring more people to share the experience that we thought has outstanding results.
As a sponsor of both the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, BHP Billiton provided the metals for the production of the medals.
The company has been also dedicated to the charity work for the handicapped groups. 40 children with disabilities and their teachers were invited to join in the performance as well as to watch the matches at the Paralympics during the Beijing tour.
