Dancers and athletes honored to take part in Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics Torch Relay

The torch relay for the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics continued on Friday morning at China Para Sports Management Center in the capital's northeast Shunyi district.

Twenty-seven torchbearers ran the 1.5 kilometer leg, dubbed the "road of dreams", with Paralympic athletes and hearing-impaired dancers participating.

Zhou Xia, gold medalist in the women's 100m at the Tokyo Paralympics, said she was honored and excited to be the first torchbearer of the leg.

"Whether it's passing on the torch or competing on the track, it's really meaningful to take part in the Summer and Winter Paralympics," said Zhou, who suffers from muscular atrophy in her left leg and left hand. She set world records in 100m and 200m races in Tokyo.

Torchbearer Wei Jingyang, the lead dancer with China's Disabled Art Troupe, will also perform at tonight's opening ceremony at the National Stadium, aka the Bird's Nest.

"Please look out for my performance at the opening ceremony. See you at the Bird's Nest. Let's set off for a shared future," the hearing-impaired dancer said in sign language.

Wei is looking forward to showcasing the troupe's dancing and Chinese culture to the world at the ceremony.

"Recently, huge efforts have been made to build a barrier-free environment, both in infrastructure and information," Wei added.

Swimming Paralympic champion Lu Dong was hoping to get the call from relay organizers when one of her former teammates was selected as a torchbearer.

"I wondered if one day I would have the honor. My wish came true today. I have realized my dream of winning a Paralympic gold medal as a swimmer and I hope athletes in the Winter Paralympics play their best without any regrets," the armless swimmer said.

The China Para Sports Management Center is the world's largest comprehensive training base for people with disabilities, according to the local Shunyi government, and is a useful training venue for the national para sports delegation.