As the Paralympic anthem resounded across the National Stadium, the 2008 Beijing Paralympics drew to a close on Wednesday night. CRI's Wu Jia brings you a report on this sporting celebration which unified both disabled and able-bodied people in one common spirit.

For the past twelve days more than four thousand disabled athletes from one hundred and forty seven countries have showcased their spirit and enthusiasm for life.

A cozy, friendly ceremony was staged at the National Stadium to draw the curtain on the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. The art performance highlighted the particular essence of the host city of Beijing and stressed the integration of life and nature. Interaction between the spectators and performers were also highlighted.

At the ceremony, the Whang Youn Dai Award, which was designated to advocate the paralympic spirit, was presented to Said Gomez, a track and field athlete from Panama, and Natalie du Toit, a swimmer from South Africa.

During the Paralympics, disabled athletes from around the world competed in 20 events and vied for four hundred and seventy one gold medals. Their actions have vividly reflected the theme of the Beijing Paralympic Games, which was "Transcendence, Equality and Integration".

On the first day of the Games, the British cycling team claimed three gold medals and rewrote three world records. David Simon broke the world record in the men's 1km track cycling event.

As the Games went on, many more world records were broken. Japanese blind judo athlete Fujimoto Satoshi says to achieve the results that they do, a disabled person has to make triple the efforts of an able-bodied person.

"If we do as much as an able-bodied person does, we cannot beat him. If we work twice as hard, we may only draw even. Only when we make triple the efforts, can we succeed."

This song, titled Tianyu, was sung by blind singer Yang Haitao at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. It's all about the close co-operation between the disabled and the able-bodied. This could be seen at every corner of every sports venue during the Beijing Paralympics.

The athletes have been filled with joy and happiness through participating in these Paralympics. They say that finding joy in competing is what they are really here for. Despite their defeat in a preliminary sitting volleyball contest, the Iraqi team was still embraced by the spectators' warmest applause. Saeed Hamid is the team leader.

"I would like to thank on behalf of my team members all these spectators and all the Chinese people for their warm encouragement and the fact that they take such pride in us. I wish them all the best from the bottom of my heart."

For the disabled, sports have brought them courage and confidence rather than medals and honor. Burmese athlete Winn Niang, who was injured and lost family members in a deadly cyclone, says that it is sports that have encouraged him to head to the Beijing Paralympic Games despite many obstacles.

"Sports have given me the courage to live on. I have made up my mind to carry on my athletic career for as long as possible."

Head of the Czech delegation Krecek Jaroslav says that, for the disabled, the Paralympics is far more than a sporting event.

"The Paralympics is more like an activator for the disabled to discover a wider world where they will open their minds to different cultures and friends, and strive forward together."

You're listening to a special report on the closing of the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Beijing promised the world seven years ago that the Paralympics would be as splendid as the 2008 Summer Olympics. Commenting on the Beijing Paralympics, President of the International Paralympic Committee, Philip Craven, has this to say.

The efforts to make the Paralympics as splendid as the Olympics was first seen at the warm and touching opening ceremony of the Paralympics on Saturday, September 6th. German President Hosrt Koehler, who attended the ceremony, says that the opening ceremony has reflected the Chinese government's excellent organizational work.

"It has shown true respect and care for disabled athletes and the determination to help them."

The theme of "Transcendence, Equality and Integration" for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Games has been incorporated in every way. Barrier-free facilities were established in the city at railway stations, hospitals, hotels and tourist spots. Meanwhile, 1.7 million volunteers from twenty seven countries and regions have joined to ensure the game's success.

The President of the International Paralympic Committee, Philip Craven, says that the Beijing Paralympics' facilities and venues have all met the IPC's requirements. He adds that the success of the Beijing Paralympics will leave a valuable legacy in Beijing and even the whole of China.

The Beijing Paralympics have promoted the construction of barrier-free infrastructure and facilities in Beijing and many other parts of the country.

From 2001, the Beijing municipal government finished fourteen thousand barrier-free projects. Tang Xiaoquan, Executive vice-president of BOCOG says the improvement of barrier-free facilities have helped many disabled people travel to famous historic sites in and around Beijing, including the Great Wall, for the first time.

"Back in 1994 when the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled were held in Beijing, disabled athletes were carried onto the Great Wall. The city has made great progress in this regard. They can now travel independently at any time to such places."

You're listening to CRI's special report on the closing the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

The Beijing Paralympics has also drawn the attention of society as a whole to the living conditions and lives of the more than 80 million disabled people throughout China .

Miguel Sagarra is Vice president of the International Paralympic Committee

"I've learnt a lot about the Chinese Government's efforts to safeguard the interests and rights of the disabled people. These include the ratification of the Law and Convention to Promote and Protect the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. I think hosting the Beijing Paralympics will largely promote the living conditions of the disabled people throughout China."

To the whole world, the Beijing Paralympics has been a grand gathering to enhance understanding and friendship between different countries. Qafur kargari is head of the Iranian delegation and vice-president of IPC.

"The Paralympics is where the spirit of humanity can be fully demonstrated. Moreover, in the pursuit of world peace and friendship, the Olympics and Paralympics can also deepen understanding and communication between different nations and in one voice call on people to stay away from wars and conflicts."

Leah Schneider, a spokeswoman with an Israeli sports organization for the disabled, says the Paralympics has also been an inspiration to able-bodied people.

"We should all show our respect to those paralympians. They have taught us that difficulties can be conquered as long as you have determination and dreams. What disabled people can achieve can surely be achieved by able-bodied people."

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games also holds special significance and influence. The number of athletes taking part in the Games is a Paralympic record. Sign language services have been used for the first time on its official website. Also for the first time in Paralympic history, the memorial wall of the Games erected in the Beijing Paralympic Village used the aforementioned UN Convention as its central theme.

The history of the Paralympic Games has illustrated the civility of human beings and demonstrated their mutual care and friendship.

Chinese President Hu jintao says that the legacy left by the Beijing Games will be well observed.

"We'll take the Beijing Paralympics as an opportunity to carry forward the spirit of humanism, protect the rights of disabled people, ensure their equal participation and share in social activities and economic progress."

Jiang Xintian, the deaf-mute girl who lit the flame of the Beijing Paralympics, expresses her wishes through a sign language interpreter.

"Moon waxes and wanes; and so do our lives. As persons with disabilities, we are not unfortunate; we just have many inconveniences. The pursuit of dreams and a better life has always accompanied us as it does you. I hope that the public will continue to care for those with disabilities after this sporting event."

In the presence of over 90,000 spectators at the Bird's Nest on Wednesday night, Wang Yimei, a 10-year-old girl with an audio impairment, spoke to the Olympic cauldron in international sign language. "The holy flame, have you seen that you are burning in my heart? The holy flame, have you heard my song for you?" It seems like the Olympic cauldron understood what she was saying, and it knew the Paralympic flame will continue to burn in the heart of all the Paralympians.

As the Paralympic flame is slowly extinguished, the baton of the Paralympic Games passes to London, host of the next Paralympics in 2012.