Ticket scalpers held

Three Paralympic Games ticket scalpers have been detained, Beijing police said yesterday.

A spokesman from the Beijing public security bureau said the police will continue to keep a close watch on the illegal sale of tickets near Games' venues as they did for the Olympics last month.

Help for disabled

About 60,000 people with disabilities in the Tibet autonomous region have benefited from rehabilitation services such as prosthetic limbs and sign language training in the past five years, the regional disabled persons federation said.

Five auxiliary equipment service stations have been set up since 2003, Gong Demin, an official of the federation, said.

To help the deaf, the region has set up a sign language center and started pilot teaching programs. A Braille dictionary in the Tibetan language has been published.

All disabled people in the region will have access to rehabilitation facilities by 2015, the federation said.

Sale of Olympic items

More than 1,800 items from the Olympic Games went under the hammer yesterday. They were the first of about 20 million items to be auctioned.

The items included desks, chairs and beds.

Qin Yuanyuan, a Huanrou district resident, bought 1,700 items for a total of 120,000 yuan ($17,600).

She said she will donate the items to her village committee.

Great Wall visits

Wheelchair-bound people who want to visit Beijing's Badaling section of the Great Wall can make reservations in advance, the section's administrative committee said.

The committee said it will provide wheelchairs and special help assistants.

A parking lot covering 2,800 sq m has been reserved for the exclusive use of the disabled.

Anyone wishing to visit should call 69121226 to make reservations.

Cultural shows

The Beijing cultural bureau yesterday said a total of 94 performances will be staged at 18 public squares in the city during the Paralympic Games.

The city's various troupes will give performances like dancing, singing and acrobatics.

Troupes consisting of disabled artists will also give performances, the bureau said.