GUANGZHOU, China – November 2009 – The 2010 Asia Para Games (www.gzapg2010.cn/en/), part of the worldwide Paralympic Movement and governed by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC), is pleased to announce emblem, mascot and slogan for the Games that will be held December 12 – 19, 2010, here in the Southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.
Official Emblem
The official emblem of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games is inspired by the Xiguan Flower Window, a design element that can be found in traditional houses in Guangzhou. The Xiguan Flower Window, which originated in northeastern China, was introduced to the city during the 17th Century, when window paper was replaced with the painted glass used in the West, to better deal with the challenging Lingnan climate.
The window was widely used in Xiguan residences and eventually became an important part of the Lingnan style of architecture. The Xiguan Flower Window thus represents integration and the diverse and welcoming nature of the Lingnan people.
The emblem is also a silhouette of an athlete in motion and uses the three colors, Red, Green and Blue, of the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) logo in its design.
The official emblem therefore represents disabled athletes’ striving for success at the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games. It represents the family of athletes with a disability and people with a disability as a whole coming together and enjoying Guangzhou’s hospitality as one during the Games and it represents a connection between two sides – better communication and a breaking down of the barriers between all peoples.
Official Mascot
Fun Fun, the official mascot of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games, is a lively Kapok, Guangzhou’s native flower. In Lingnan culture, the Kapok represents strength and so Fun Fun is a wonderful ambassador for the Para Games and represents the fighting spirit of the disabled and the never ending quest for success.
In Chinese, Fun Fun is used to describe a flower’s fragrance—sweet and pleasant with a lovely aroma. Fun Fun’s five dancing petals create a bright smiling face, symbolizing the joy felt by everyone taking part in the Games and the enthusiasm and support shown by Guangzhou, the Host City. Fun Fun’s active, sporty pose symbolizes the vitality of the Para Games and the power that comes with motion.
Fun also has a wonderful meaning in the English language – our new friend is telling us that the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games will be an unforgettable event that will be fun for everyone – a key goal of these Games.
Official Slogan
The Official Slogan of the Asia Para Games is: We Cheer, We Share, We Win
Concept: These three phrases together capture the themes and goals of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games.
An excited crowd cheers from the grandstands…
The image of supporters and sports fans alike, cheering on the sports spectacle before them, beautifully captures the atmosphere the organizers wish to create at the upcoming Asian Para Games. As a sports festival, the Games will celebrate the beauty of sport and the joy of participation. As a sports competition, it will provide a great opportunity for athletes to rise above their disabilities, compete at the highest level and inspire all of us to be all we can be.
Through sport, people with a disability have faced and overcome the challenges that life has presented to them. Their efforts have redefined their lives and the boundaries of what is possible and provided them with an opportunity to build their confidence, their independence and their self-esteem. Cheer therefore not only represents the actions of a supportive crowd, but also the feeling the athletes will experience and the support they will give each other, during the event.
A shared experience, a shared humanity…
The theme of sharing is at the heart of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games. The Asian Para Games provides an opportunity to raise the profile of the disabled and promote equality for all. Their achievements in sport remind us that the disabled have the same dreams and the same rights; to enjoy physical activities and the best life has to offer, as the able-bodied. During the Games, they will share the challenges and the joys of competition and share in each other’s successes and sorrows.
Winning Beyond Sport…
At the Asian Para Games, winning not only happens on the sports field. The very existence of the Games creates a win-win situation for everyone .The Games uphold the spirit of the Olympics and inspire the humanitarian in all of us, raise sport and the image of the disabled to a higher level and, at the same time, create a sense of purpose and achievement for every athlete, supporter, official and individual taking part. This win-win scenario is at the heart of the Para Games, as are the Olympic ideals of promoting solidarity among nations and regions and achieving peace and harmony, through sport.
We Cheer, We Share, We Win
The Asian Para Games are for the people of Asia, both the physically challenged and the able-bodied. With athletes and delegations from 45 countries and regions in Asia participating and thousands of sports fans expected to attend, the Asian Para Games are for everyone. They are important, they are inclusive and they are welcoming. The ‘We’ in the Games Slogan is all of us.
About The 2010 Asia Para Games
The 2010 Asia Para Games (www.gzapg2010.cn/en/) is approved and governed by the Asian Paralympic Committee and will be held in “Flower City” of Guangzhou from December 12-19, 2010.More than 4,000 athletes, coaches and trainers from 40 countries and regions will compete in 19 sports.
