http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/Luke-T-Johnson xx http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2008/09/17/The-Gold-Standard <!--paging_filter--><p><img height="189" border="5" align="texttop" width="480" alt="" src="/files/u4440/SteveDanielsTOP.jpg" /></p> <p>After <a href="http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/athletics/n214605836.shtml">this morning's marathon</a>, the Paralympics will wind up tonight with a grand closing ceremony that will see fireworks exploding above the Bird's Nest once again. Before it's all over and the city begins to emerge from the &quot;Olympic period&quot; - all the cars will be <a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&amp;ct=us/0-0&amp;fp=48d0367e6ef83675&amp;ei=xJ3QSJ7zGYGE6wP-qPXKBw&amp;url=http%3A//www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/16/2366326.htm&amp;cid=0&amp;usg=AFQjCNEc5SrXLgkrnePowcZam7kf6IAFbg">back on the road</a> on Sunday - we though it timely to reprint <strong>Luke T. Johnson's</strong> article about the athletes competing in this year's games and the impact the Beijing Paralympics will have on the city and its people. The article first appeared in the <strong>September issue</strong> of <a href="http://www.urbanechina.com/"><strong><em>Urbane</em></strong></a>.</p> <p>Before the accident, Sgt. <a href="http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/BIO/Athlete/9/1206359.shtml">Steve Daniel</a> was like most people &ndash; he knew next to nothing about people with disabilities. He had never heard of the <strong>Paralympics</strong>. </p><p><a href="http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2008/09/17/The-Gold-Standard">read more</a></p> http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2008/09/17/The-Gold-Standard#comments Olympics Luke T. Johnson Sport Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:00:28 +0800 thebeijinger 308668 at http://www.thebeijinger.com