The thirteenth Paralympics Games in Beijing, China - with the same slogan as the 2008 Summer Olympics "One World, One Dream" - welcomed over 4,200 athletes from 148 countries, the largest number of nations ever at the Paralympics (twelve more than in Athens), with several countries competing for the first time. As in 2004, China dominated the medal count finishing with a total of 211 medals, including 89 gold. Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) declared the Games 'the greatest Paralympic Games ever.'
The 90,000 seat Bird's Nest Stadium staged the spectacular Opening Ceremony which involved the contributions of 4,813 performers. Three times Paralympic champion in the Men's High Jump and Paralympian Ambassador Hou Bin lit the Paralympic torch in sensational style when climbing a rope to the roof of the Bird's Nest using nothing but the strength in his arms.
Amazing performances were had in the Birds Nest stadium, such as Canada's T54 wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc taking five gold medals in all distances from 100m through to 1,500m; South African Oscar Pistorius claiming three golds in the 100m, 200m and 400m T44 races, setting a new world record of 47.49 seconds in the 400m; and Ireland's Jason Smyth setting new world records on his way to gold in the 100m and 200m T13 races.
Brazil's Daniel Dias was the man to beat in the 'Water Cube' taking home a total of nine Swimming medals consisting of four golds, four silvers and one bronze. South Africa's Natalie du Toit was equally impressive winning five gold medals out of five Swimming events. At the closing ceremony, du Toit was awarded the Whand Youn Dai Achievement Award, in recognition of her exemplary role in practising the Paralympic motto 'Spirit in Motion'.
Dutch Wheelchair Tennis player Ester Vergeer collected her third consecutive Paralympic Games gold medal with victory in the Women's singles, whist Polish Table Tennis player Natalie Partyka competed in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, taking gold in the Women's individual TT10 final in the latter event.
Australia's 19 year old Rugby player Ryley Batt scored a record 23 points as his country took home silver.
All but the sailing and equestrian events were held in Beijing.
As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, the equestrian events of the Paralympic Games were held in Hong Kong. At these Games, competitors were divided into five grades (Ia, Ib, II, III, and IV), an additional grade to previous years with the division of Grade I divided into Grade Ia and Grade Ib.
To make sure more Chinese disabled athletes could qualify for the 2008 Games, China sent some 1,500 people to participate in international events. The Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore (RDA) was invited by the National Paralympic Committee of China in conjunction with the China Disabled Person‟s Federation and the Chinese Equestrian Association to participate in the Guangdong CPEDI* competition from 7-9 March 2008. It was held at the Guangdong Huangcun Training Centre, in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. This was a Prequalifier for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and sanctioned by the FEI.
Great Britain dominated Grade Ia with four-times Paralympian Anne Dunham winning her first Individual gold following a spectacular performance with Teddy, a nine year old chestnut gelding. Sophie Christiansen, bronze medallist in Athens and freestyle gold medallist at the FEI World Championships in Hartpury 2007 produced a great test riding grey gelding Lambrusco III scooping silver in the Championship test and gold in the Freestyle. On winning the gold medal she stated "Initially I just burst into tears crying, I couldn't believe it. The Team gold is great but to come here for this, the Individual Freestyle gold medal… it's amazing. I've worked hard for it".
Lee Pearson (GBR) once again took all the gold medals available to him - Championship, Freestyle and team – giving him the most formidable record with three horses, three Paralympic Games and so far nothing but gold. Silver in the Freestyle went to Pearson‟s team mate Ricky Balshaw riding Deacons Giorgi who expressed his absolute delight at having won silver, and even though he would have liked the gold, he heartily congratulated his fellow teammate for raising the bar to such a high standard. Third place in both the Championship and Freestyle tests went to Marcos Alves (BRA), a former professional Jumping rider who returned to equestrian sports following an accident in 1986. He expressed his gratitude to the Brazilian National Paralympic Committee and National Federation for providing the funding and the support which has been instrumental in sending the first ever Brazilian team to the equestrian events of the Paralympic Games – and as a consequence, winning the first ever Brazilian (and South American) equestrian Paralympic medal!
Canada‟s Lauren Barwick (CAN) riding Maile achieved "the goal of a lifetime" eight years in the making by gaining silver in the Championship test and gold in the Freestyle – the first gold medal of all time for Canada at equestrian events of the Paralympic Games.
A great performance by Felicity Coulthard (GBR) and Roffelaar to Fiddler on the Roof added another medal to Britain‟s formidable equestrian tally with Freestyle silver followed closely by Britta Näpel (GER) - individual Championship gold medallist – in bronze position with the charming Cherubin 15.
Denmark's Caroline Cecile Nielsen added her name to the Grade II Paralympic scoreboard with a bronze medal performance riding Rostorn's Hatim-T in the Individual Championships test.
Medals in the Grade III Individual Championship test were hotly disputed and it was Germany's Hannelore Brenner riding Women of the World that emerged victorious over Annika Dalskov Lykke (DEN) and Alfarvad April Z with just .400 separating the top two while third place went to Bettina Eistel (GER), double silver and bronze medallist in Athens.
In the Freestyle test, Brenner confirmed her unique partnership and took the gold followed by first time Paralympian, Simon Laurens (GBR) and Ocean Diamond and Annika Dalskov Lykke (DEN) in third place.
Philippa Johnson (RSA) won South Africa's first two gold medals of all time at the equestrian events of the 2008 Paralympic Games with stunning performances aboard Benedict. This was her second Paralympic experience, having competed and won silver at the 2004 Paralympic Games, and in 2008 is part of the first South African Paralympic equestrian team. Norway's Ann Cathrin Lübbe earned double silver and contributed whole heartedly to Norway's team bronze riding the gentlemanly Zanko while bronze went twice to Australia‟s Georgia Bruce and Olympic shortlisted horse.
Great Britain retained the team title on British soil for yet another four years while Gemany's excellent team of one man and three women took second place followed rather closely by Norway in bronze medal position.
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