Beijing aims to present a welcoming environment to disabled athletes who come for the Paralympics. At the Capital Airport, the first stop of their journey in the city, many renovations have been made to increase the number of barrier-free facilities and services.
The airport has set up 110 unisex bathrooms and transformed another 200 toilets for disabled passengers. The bathrooms are equipped with adjusted handrails and alarms. And more than 300 escalators and walkways are supplied with Braille buttons and voice prompts.
Dong Zhiyi, General manager of Beijing Capital Int'l Airport, said, "Barrier-free facilities at the capital airport have all reached international standards. To achieve this goal, we have spent more than 12 million yuan to upgrade and renovate 1,400 barrier-free facilities."
Most of the barrier-free facilities at the capital airport will remain after the Paralympic Games. And its experience and practices are expected to be promoted in other airports around the country.
(CCTV September 4, 2008)
