China and the development of sport for persons with a disability, 1978–2008: a review

Abstract

The 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games have had a very positive impact on many aspects of Chinese society beyond sport. This article focuses on the wide-ranging changes that have taken place since 1978 for the 83 million persons with disabilities in China. Organizations such as the Chinese Disabled Sports Association (1983) and the Disabled Persons Federation (1988) have been established and the 1995 People's Republic of China Sport Law ‘supporting sport for the elderly and disabled’ was initiated. New government policies also support fitness programmes, special education policies, National Games, new sports facilities, local recreational activities and the participation of high-performance athletes in the international Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC) and Paralympic Games. However, there are many ongoing challenges to increasing opportunities for and the participation of those with disabilities in all areas of sport and fitness. Fortunately, with the rapid development of China's economy, more support for disability sport has been possible.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the invaluable support and assistance in translation from Li Jing at the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China, Beijing.

Notes

¹ In addition to the question of a huge population, there is the challenge of a diversity in language use in China that includes Standard Chinese (Mandarin), Putonghua (based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects and other minority languages.

² China Disabled Persons' Federation, The Second China National Sample on Disability 2, 66–69.’According to the survey data, it is estimated that the total number of persons with disabilities nationwide for all disability types is 82,960,000. In accordance with the survey of the National Bureau of Statistics, the total population of China was estimated to be 1,309,480,000 and with a total disabled population of 6.34%.

³ China Disabled Persons' Federation, The Second China National Sample on Disability.

⁴ China Disabled Persons' Federation, The Second China National Sample on Disability

⁵ Zhang and Zhong, ‘Historical Retrospect of Disabled Sports’, 17–22.

⁶ Dong Xue, ‘The New Concept about Persons with Disabilities’, 7.

⁷ Cong Xiaofeng and Tang Binyao, ‘A Study on the Practical Models of Disability’, 1–4.

⁸ Wang Qiyan and Tan Zhilin, ‘Social Security of the Handicapped’, 20–24.

⁹ China Disabled Persons' Federation, The Second National Sample on Disability.

¹⁰ After World War II, there were two major social systems. One is called capitalism and the other is called socialism. China is part of a socialist system (most westerners would use the term communist). In the 1960s, capitalist countries were hostile to socialist countries and at that time China also had a poor relationship with Soviet Russia, which was the largest communist country. The Chinese government was so angry that it refused to connect with other countries. During the period from 1949 to 1978, China was based on a planned economy and focused on various political initiatives. This resulted in a slow improvement in China's economy and a reduction in poverty as a whole. In 1978, the Chinese government decided to open up and connect with other countries all over the world. Since then, the Chinese government has been reforming its planned economic system step-by-step and has set up a market economy within socialism. It has paid more and more attention to its economy and societal progress. Therefore, the reforms beginning in 1978 have been very important for China and its people.'

¹¹ Special Olympics, personal correspondence, July 15, 2009.

¹² Yearbook of Affairs for Persons with Disabilities China (1983–1994).

¹³ Chairman Tom Koizumi Qiyue, ‘Countdown to the First Anniversary of the Paralympic Games’. News Conference, China Disabled Persons Federation, http://www.beijing2008.cn/.

¹⁴ Wikipedia, Province (China), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_China.

¹⁵ Tom Koizumi Qiyue, ‘Countdown to the First Anniversary of the Paralympic Games’. News Conference, China Disabled Persons Federation, http://www.beijing2008.cn/

¹⁶ China Disabled Persons' Federation, http://www.cdpf.org.cn.

¹⁷ Zhang and Zhong, ‘Historical Retrospect of Disabled Sports’, 17–21; China Disabled Persons' Federation, Statistical Communiqué on the Development of Work. National compulsory special education schools have increased in number from 423 in 1986 to 1667 in 2007, and special classes attached to ordinary schools have gone up to 678. The number of students with disabilities in schools has grown almost 10 times from 47,200 in 1986 to 413,000 in 2007. Blind, deaf and intellectually disabled children's enrolment rate has reached 80.7%. In senior and secondary schools, the number of students with disabilities has reached 14,000. Ninety-five per cent of students with disabilities who meet university and college admission standards are admitted. Plus, there are 720,000 persons with disabilities studying in all types of vocational training institutions. The persons with disabilities mentioned above have access to sport training courses. Gansheng, ‘Report on the Donation Income and Expenses in 1994 and Express Budget in 1995 of China Foundation of Disabled Persons’, http://www.cwfh.org.cn/wxzl/cwbg-94.html.

¹⁸ ’Zhou Fang, ‘Present Situation and Influential Factors’, 1.

¹⁹ Luo Yong,’‘Research into the Status Quo and Development Measure of Sports for the Disabled in China’, 37–39.

²⁰ China Disabled Persons' Federation, The Second China National Sample.

²¹ The Statistics Bureau of China, ‘Series of Reports on the Social and Economic Achievements’, 2008. In 1978, US$1 was ∼ 1.5 RMB; in 2007, US$1 was ∼ 7.4 RMB; in 2008, US$1 was ∼ 6.9 RMB.

²² Qian, ‘Discussion on the Definition and Construction of the Socialism Harmonious Society’, 5–8.