From Reuters, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Associated Press, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Broadcasting, USA Today and elsewhere:

Beijing opened the international Paralympic Games this weekend with an extravagant performance by a cast of thousands, as President Hu Jintao proclaimed that the government is dedicated to improving the lives of its 83 million citizens with disabilities.

“We stand for equality, oppose discrimination, care for the vulnerable and respect human rights,” Hu said, according to state media.

In preparation for the event, the government acquired 2,000 “kneeling buses,” installed a wheelchair ramp at the Great Wall, and spent $80 million to improve access in Beijing. Human rights groups say discrimination is still widespread in a country that has traditionally believed disabilities are caused by a person’s misdeeds in a previous lifetime, but were guardedly optimistic that the games could trigger a change in Chinese prejudices.

Historically, the Chinese government has not recognized the rights of people with disabilities. It has long advocated sterilizing mentally handicapped people. In 1994, China ratified a law calling for the abortion of fetuses carrying hereditary diseases and restrictions on marriages among people with mental problems or contagious diseases.

The opening ceremony of the Paralympics can be seen on the web here.

(Photo from Los Angeles Times)

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