BOCOG sorry for offense to disabled people

By Li Xinran  |   2008-6-3  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

ORGANIZERS of the Beijing Olympics apologized yesterday to disabled people because of some "improper words" used in volunteer manuals for the Games and Paralympics, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Manual for Beijing Olympic Volunteers was reported to have been offensive to people with disabilities, sparking criticism from organizers of the Paralympic Games, athletes and physically challenged people.

"In the Beijing Olympics Volunteer Manual published by BOCOG, some mistakes were made in describing people with disabilities," the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games said.

"This manual has met criticism from organizations of persons with disabilities, athletes with disabilities, and foreign and domestic friends. As such, BOCOG has decided to recall and rewrite this booklet.

"We would like to express our deepest apologies to those organizations, athletes with disabilities, and friends who were offended by our publication," the committee said.

The statement didn't go into details on the offensive wording. The committee said it would continue to listen to organizers of the Paralympic Games, athletes and disabled people.

It said it wanted to improve its services and preparations for the Games as well as to promote the development of disabled people.