The XIII Paralympic Games will take place in Beijing, China, from September 6-17, 2008. An estimated 4,000 athletes from 150 countries will participate. The slogan of the 2008 Paralympic Games is “One World, One Dream,” expressing the idea of the Paralympics as something shared by the global community.

Games Emblem

The emblem of the 2008 Paralympic Games is called “Sky, Earth and Human Beings.” It represents the figure of an athlete in motion and conveys the great effort that Paralympic athletes make in sport, as well as in life. The Paralympic “Spirit in Motion” is reflected in the figure and the title, conveying the unity and harmony of sky, earth, and human beings.

Mascot

The mascot for the 2008 Paralympic Games takes its inspiration from the farming culture of ancient China. Named “Fu Niu Lele,” this friendly cow symbolizes the down-to-earth, never-quit spirit that is characterizes paralympic athletes.

Paralympic Flame

The torch will be lit at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on August 28, 2008. From there, the flame will relay through China and abroad for 10 days, visiting future Paralympic cities Vancouver, London and Sochi, among other places. 

Paralympic Torch Relay Web site

Medals

Jade, known in China as the “royal gem,” will accent the 2008 Paralympic medals. All three medals will feature the Paralympic emblem on the front, but each will have a different color jade on the reverse. White jade will be used for the gold medals, dark green jade for the silver medals and light green jade for the bronze medals. The band of jade on the reverse will surround the 2008 Paralympic logo engraved in the center. The writing on the medals also will be replicated in Braille. 

Opening Ceremonies

The opening ceremony of the 2008 Paralympic Games will be on September 6, 2008, at in the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest.

The Bird’s Nest

USRowing does not have tickets for the opening ceremony and cannot obtain them. If you are interested in attending the opening ceremony, tickets may be purchased through the USOC’s official ticket agent, CoSport.