S Africans applaud Paralympics as "brilliant, moving event"

Source: Xinhua | 09-17-2008 14:21

JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The South African people have been applauding the ongoing Beijing Paralympics as a "brilliant and moving" event, local media reported Tuesday.

"The Beijing Paralympics are undoubtedly the best one in history and as wonderful as the just-concluded Beijing Olympics," said Debbie Sogoni, a coach working in Johannesburg with a gym named Virgin Active.

He also hailed the performance of the South African Paralympic delegation as "great." South African athletes have netted 21 gold medals and ranked sixth in the medal table by Wednesday.

Their achievement in Beijing has attracted widespread attention to the Paralympics from their country fellows.

Nkomo Samila, who works in a bank in the eastern coastal city of Durban, said she was amazed by the organization work and the tremendous efforts paid by the Chinese government for the Beijing Paralympics.

Mathole Hamit, who is 24 and lost his right arm in an accident five years ago, said he was moved by the spirit of persistence displayed by the athletes.

So many new world records have been created, which have brought more brilliance to the Beijing Paralympics and set a very high standard for the events in the future, Hamit said.

Steyn Herstie, a middle school teacher in Cape Town, said a conclusion can be drawn now that the Beijing Paralympics would rank as the best and most splendid in history.

Beijing has offered the athletes the best stadiums, best volunteers and best organization work, and all these have given the world an opportunity to discover a more open, truer and more developed China, she said.

Editor:Zhang Ning