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UN officials in China celebrate participants at Beijing Paralympics

15 September 2008 – The United Nations Country Team in China has teamed up with the country’s Disabled Persons’ Federation to host an event in honour of competitors at the current Paralympics being held in Beijing.

The joint event celebrated both the sportsmen and women at the Games, as well as those around the world who promote the rights of people with disabilities, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters today.

More than 4,000 athletes from 148 countries competed at the Paralympics, which conclude on Wednesday.

“There are no people with disabilities, but people with different abilities,” said Khalid Malik, the UN Resident Coordinator in China. “Their rights shall by no means be ignored, disrespected or not fulfilled.”

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