Beijing Winter Paralympic mascot Shuey Rhon Rhon is seen at Zhangjiakou Athletes Village in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, March 2, 2022. /CFP

China's State Council Information Office released a white paper on Thursday titled "China's Parasports: Progress and the Protection of Rights," one day before the opening of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, along with making progress in the cause of the disabled, the country has steadily developed parasports, blazing a path that carries distinct Chinese features and respects the trends of the times, according to the white paper. 

China had made an outstanding contribution to international parasports, as the country has succeeded in hosting the Beijing 2008 Summer Paralympics, the Shanghai 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, the Sixth Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled, and the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games, and made full preparations for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games and Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games. 

The public's understanding of provisions for the disabled and their sports has increased. The concepts of "equality, participation and sharing" are taking root, while understanding, respecting, helping, and caring for the disabled are becoming the norm in society. 

China has established and improved a winter sport system to encourage more disabled people to engage in ice and snow sports.

The white paper also noted that the remarkable achievements of parasports in China reflect both the sportsmanship and sporting prowess of the disabled, and the progress China is making in human rights and national development.

As of February 20, 2022, 647 athletes from 48 countries and regions registered and would be competing in the Beijing Winter Paralympics taking place from March 4 to 13.