Committing to lasting change

On behalf of the International Paralympic Committee, I am excited to welcome you to a moment in history. With these Games, Beijing becomes the first ever city to host both the summer and winter editions of the Paralympic Games.

We are all here thanks to seven years of meticulous planning and hard work by the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee. We are grateful to them, the Chinese government and the Chinese people for their efforts in organizing these Games against the backdrop of the pandemic. Together with the organizers we believe we can offer the safest and best platform for athletes to highlight their talent.

Over the coming days, you will see Paralympians smash stereotypes and demonstrate why persons with disabilities need to be active, visible, and contributing members of a global society.

I know all about the positive impact a Paralympic Games can have on a host nation. I was here in Beijing for the 2008 Paralympics when China not only set a new standard for how all future Games should be delivered, but also for how nations can put in place support structures for Para athletes to reach their full potential.

I believe that Beijing 2022 will be as important for winter Para sport in China. The investment that China has made in winter para sports is impressive and the number of persons with disabilities that they want to reach and be engaged in winter sports is incredible.

These Games are important not just for athletes, but for the 83 million persons with disabilities in China. Infrastructure improvements have been made in Beijing, Zhangjiakou and Yanqing which will directly benefit the lives of persons with disabilities. Even more important are the legislative changes which ensure the Games have a legacy.

I want Beijing 2022 to help us to shine more light on the challenges that persons with disabilities face on a day-to-day basis. The Paralympics are a platform that need to be there to help change mindsets.

We will use the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games to continue to grow awareness of the WeThe15 campaign, which aims to end discrimination toward persons with disabilities and act as a global movement campaigning for disability visibility, accessibility, inclusion and equality of rights.

We are on a 10-year journey to advance the rights of persons with disabilities. This summer will see the next evolution of WeThe15 as we call on the world to "Commit to Change".

The best thing we can do to amplify that is let the athletes do what they do best, which is to put on incredible performances, and with those performances they inspire and help change the world.

Please enjoy the Games and history in the making.