12th Shandong Provincial Paralympic Games & 1st Special Olympics to kick off in Linyi
The 12th Shandong Provincial Paralympic Games and the 1st Shandong Special Olympics will officially open at Linyi Olympic Sports Park on September 17. As the province's highest-level and largest comprehensive sports event for athletes with disabilities, the grand gala marks the first time for Linyi to host a provincial-level comprehensive sports meet for disabled people.
Centered on the theme Chasing Dreams in Yimeng, Sharing Splendid Moments, the event forms a complementary spiritual chapter with the slogan of The 26th Shandong Province Sports Games — Red Yimeng, Brilliant Provincial Games. It inherits the profound red heritage of Yimeng and injects vibrant contemporary vitality into inclusive sports undertakings.
The opening ceremony adopts the core storyline of “chasing dreams, striving, soaring and blooming”. Integrating diverse artistic expressions including recitation, sign language performances, chorus, dance, acrobatics, wire stunts and light and shadow interaction, the ceremony perfectly combines the indomitable spirit of athletes with disabilities and the noble Yimeng spirit.
Structured with a prelude Listening to the Voice of Blooming Flowers, three major chapters of “Chasing Dreams”, “Striving” and “Soaring”, and a concluding segment “Blooming”, the performance progressively showcases the self-respect, self-confidence, self-improvement and self-reliance of people with disabilities. It conveys the core values of equality, participation, sharing and integration, paying sincere tribute to life and unremitting striving through warm and powerful stage presentation.
From September 18 to 21, two core competitions will be held simultaneously at Linyi Olympic Sports Park. Track and field events will take place in the stadium, covering sprint, throwing, jumping and race walking. Disabled athletes from across Shandong will compete on the professional Grade-A venue, interpreting extraordinary perseverance and vitality with speed and strength.
Meanwhile, swimming competitions will be staged in the park’s natatorium. Athletes will dive into the pool and challenge their physical limits with every stroke and turn. As a traditional advantageous event in disabled sports, every touch of the wall in the swimming arena witnesses extraordinary courage and persistence.
Full preparations for barrier-free services are in place to guarantee a smooth and heartwarming event. Comprehensive barrier-free facilities including ramps, handrails, tactile paving, wheelchair viewing seats and barrier-free restrooms have been fully optimized and repeatedly inspected. A complete and accessible passage system covering parking lots, training halls, competition venues and rest areas ensures convenient and barrier-free access for all athletes and spectators.
Well-trained volunteers are fully prepared to provide professional and thoughtful services throughout the event, creating a secure competition environment for athletes and a comfortable viewing experience for audiences.
The grand opening ceremony on September 17 and exciting track and field, swimming competitions from September 18 to 21 will present a wonderful sports feast themed on perseverance, transcendence and dreams in Linyi.
Editor：韩蒙蒙