China Sorry For Insensitive Olympics Guide

Manual For Volunteers Contained Stereotypes Of The Disabled; Organizers Blame Translation

(AP)  Beijing Olympic organizers have issued an apology for the language used to describe disabled athletes in a manual compiled for thousands of volunteers.

Wording in the English-language document used clumsy stereotypes in reference to the disabled. Zhang Qiuping, director of Beijing's Paralympic Games, said last week it was a problem of "poor translation." However, the Chinese-language version contained many of the same stereotypes.

"We would like to express our deepest apologies to those organizations, athletes with disabilities and friends who were offended by our publication," the organizing committee said Monday in a statement.

The statement said the booklet had been recalled and was being rewritten.

The 200-page volunteer manual offers guidance for volunteers in areas ranging from serving the disabled to basic rules. About 70,000 volunteers will work on the Aug. 8-24 Olympics and 30,000 more will serve during the Paralympic Games on Sept. 6-17.

A section dedicated to the disabled said that "paralympic athletes and disabled spectators are a special group. They have unique personalities and ways of thinking."

To handle the "Optically Disabled," the guide said: "Often the optically disabled are introverted. They have deep and implicit feelings and seldom show strong emotions. ... Remember, when you communicate with optically disabled people, try not to use the world `blind' when you meet for the first time."

On the "Physically Disabled," the guide said: "Physically disabled people are often mentally healthy. They show no differences in sensation, reaction, memorization and thinking mechanisms from other people, but they might have unusual personalities because of disfigurement and disability.

"For example, some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial and introspective; they usually do not volunteer to contact people. They can be stubborn and controlling; they may be sensitive and struggle with trust issues. Sometimes they are overly protective of themselves, especially when they are called `crippled' or `paralyzed."'

The guide said volunteers should "not fuss or show unusual curiosity, and never stare at their disfigurement." It also advised volunteer to steer away from words like "cripple or lame, even if you are just joking."

[heero2020]

Hewo, welcome to China. I want to say I no think you blind, just optically challenged. Optically challenged as a bat.

[keithle1]

"Yankee devil, you will be disabled after you breathe our Beijing air!"

[eggy1620]

It should also have said, %u201CKeep the optically disabled of the streets because we cannot drive.%u201D

[incog-nito]

Just wait until you hear about the manual about Americans.

[mljohns00]

So...
Blind folks won''t be reading the guide anyway, and who''s going to tell the deaf folks?

[rational_1]

No wonder the Chinese manual is all messed up - it was made in China. Probably has lead in the ink to boot!

[cantshutup]

well i think you have to look at this from the perspective that china is a very controlled, secretive, superstitious society...that "manual" would not have been made or given out in the United States but it makes since for china...like what it said or not, they look at things differently...not better or more progressively, differently.

[dan19491]

It'' not a big deal unless it is YOU.

I love being talked to loudly because I walk with a cane, and people assme I cannot hear.

I love being assumed I am mentally challanged because I have had polio. I have an I Q above 135, and multiple awards, But I am treated differently by many people because I am not ''normal".

Before you assume this is nothing, try living, working, & sleeping in pain, everyday of the year.

[watcher269-2009]

China Sorry For Insensitive Olympics Guide

---

He''s been sent to Guantanamo Bay for Execution by the Bush and Cheney administration!

He will be missed!

[roger_inkart]

Everybody is so tender-footed these days.

Posted by neonink at 03:51 PM : Jun 02, 2008

Perhaps. But I would imagine most physically disabled people would find being described as ''isolated, unsocial'' and ''stubborn and controlling'' and being ''overly protective of themselves'' somewhat insulting, wouldn''t you? That''s a rather harsh and ignorant generalization, don''t you think? If not, then the next time you see a person in a wheel chair (which I am not, BTW) go up and tell them they are all these things.

You might have to rethink your position.

[neonink]

I read nothing wrong there..

It must be subliminal?

Everybody is so tender-footed these days. Good grief.

[roger_inkart]

Article not worth reading much less commenting about. Complete waste of time.

Posted by yongamerica at 02:34 PM : Jun 02, 2008

...and from your apparent lack of ability to use pronouns we can assume you are from....where?

[incog-nito]

"incog-nito" - seems that YOU read and commented on it as well! :-)

Posted by raflin1 at 03:04 PM : Jun 02, 2008

You are correct. But I never said that article was not worth commenting on.

[incog-nito]

Article not worth reading much less commenting about. Complete waste of time.

Posted by yongamerica at 02:34 PM : Jun 02, 2008

... but apparently worthy enough for you to have both read and commented on it.

[yongamerica]

Article not worth reading much less commenting about. Complete waste of time.

[gopsoccermom]

raflin1, and you think this is wrong why?

[enlightenu]

gopsoccermom, you are such a fake. You''re obviously not GOP nor a soccermom. But your comments are very funny, and you fool alot of people. Keep up the good work.

[incog-nito]

"Often the optically disabled are introverted. They have deep and implicit feelings and seldom show strong emotions. ... Remember, when you communicate with optically disabled people, try not to use the world `blind'' when you meet for the first time."

People miss the point, which is not that the Chinese is trying to be sensitive. This statement indicates the mindset of the Chinese, which is that they make a lot of assumptions on how others think why the way they look.

This goes to show that prejudice exists everywhere in every race.

[shaihalud-2009]

Making mountains out of mole hills? Yes, it''s odd, but Americans just love picking on the Chinese. So much is to be gained by better relations with the next superpower yet we embarrass them on a world stage? Much of which comes from hypocrites.

[gopsoccermom]

Did they cover how to handle liberal American women in a special section or is it just covered generally in mentally disabled?