One World, One Dream.

Madeleine with Paralympic Gold Medalist Simon Richardson

‘One World, One Dream.’ is the Chinese slogan for the Olympic and Paralympics games. Walking through the Olympic village to meet some of the athlete sand their families it was easy to feel the games had lived up to this claim. The long queues to enter the village were well organised and moving fast. Fine sprays of water and parasol kept the waiting in the hot sun at least tolerable. I was in Beijing as part of a cross party delegation of MP’s, civil servants, business leaders and journalists for discussions with Chinese leaders to build mutual understanding and trust. The chance to visit the Olympic village was a bonus during the visit.

Arriving at the hotel used by the British team as a headquarters I was introduced by a member of the Sports Council for Wales to the parents of David Roberts who had then won three gold medals in Beijing. Later in the day he won his fourth medal at these games taking his grand total to ten. David’s mum Carol was easy to identify as being part of the Welsh team as she sat on the sofa with blow up daffodils and a bright red dragon. The excitement of the games and David’s success were high on the list of things we talked about before being joined briefly by Tanni Grey-Thompson.

The visit to the hotel was all too short but I was also able to talk to Nathan Stevens from Bridgend though failed to meet the highly successful Simon Richardson or Rhiannon Henry. Nathan had not won a medal when we spoke but he was already planning for, and looking forward to, the London games. Everyone I spoke to thought highly of the facilities and organisation of the games. The Chinese had taken the task of proving facilities for people with disabilities very seriously and throughout the city major changes had taken place. China must now lead the way in Beijing having spent over 62 million Euro’s providing new facilities across the city in hotels, transport, visitor attractions and restaurants. We were shown that sign language and hearing aid wireless access had also been provided for those attending the games.

The lasting impact of the Paralympics games will I hope be a dramatic change in China and across the world of how disability is viewed. The strength, courage and skills of those taking part in the games have been an inspiration to everyone that we should never forget. No one is without huge potential that it is our responsibility to allow and support to flower. In the village and later in the city I had the chance to talk to athletes from around the world attending the games. All spoke highly of the welcome they had received especially from members of the public. It was also good to see how many ordinary people were using the facilities to bring elderly and disabled family members to view the village and the games.

The Beijing games bring an opportunity for team GB to learn ideas and take initiatives further. Having talked to David’s parents one of the clear messages for me is that we need to do more to help parents and partners not only to attend the games but to obtain tickets to see events their family are competing in. The Robert’s had arranged their own transport, struggled to find their way around Beijing and had only been able to watch some of David’s gold medal performances on the large plasma screen in the team lounge at the hotel. Not good enough and we must do better.

The buildings and village in Beijing were visually spectacular and well designed posing a huge challenge to London in 2012. London will not have the £50 billion I was told that China spent on the games but some things cost a great deal less and we can and must tackle them. The city was very clean. I saw virtually no litter. All public facilities were always clean, high quality and welcoming. The city had been given a green makeover with trees, gardens and spectacular flower displays and colourful flags everywhere. Even the ring road had flower baskets attached to the crash barriers leading up to the village. At night the city was a dazzling array of lights with most office building around the main ring roads a riot of colour and light to increase the feeling of festival and celebration. Volunteers were every where providing information, advice and guidance in a variety of languages but in the queues entering the games only Chinese was spoken on the loud hailers.

The games will have a lasting impression on China. There was a new confidence in the people who talked of their pride in their country and their achievements which were now on show across the world. China has many problems and issues still to address but no one can now deny that China has taken its place on the world stage and given a most impressive performance.

Finally during a meal in the city I was told that the Chinese pictograms interpretation of Madeleine is virtuous horse in the forest. Not perhaps the most important thing I learned during the delegation but one I will not forget.