Synopsis: World Paralympic records have been smashed in the pool and on the track and the host nation China is rapidly pulling away at the lead of the medal tally.
An official with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said here on Friday that some delegations and athletes have brought guide dogs to the ongoing Beijing Paralympic Games, and so far there has been no complaint about any inconvenience.
Guide dogs brought by the delegations and athletes to the Beijing Paralympics have entered China smoothly, and have received good care during their stay in the Paralympic Village. Hearing dogs are trained to distinguish between different types of sounds, such as telephone rings, a knock at the door or a fire alarm. They then touch a special part of their owner's body to indicate the particular sound.
World Paralympic records have been smashed in the pool and on the track and the host nation China is rapidly pulling away at the lead of the medal tally, with Australia sitting in fourth position.
According to litigant/athlete Tony Iniguez, it's a violation of federal anti-discrimination law for the U.S. Olympic Committee not to provide fuller support for regular Olympic sports than it does for the Paralympics, a separate competition for disabled athletes. A federal district court and appeals court have disagreed so far with his urgings.
Host nation China Friday achieved its medals target of more than 100 in the ongoing 2008 Paralympic Games
At the pool, Erin Popovich of the USA won another gold medal; this time in the 400 freestyle. Teammate Cortney Jordan took silver. Jessica long won gold for the United States in the 200 individual medley, while Amanda Everlove won silver.
Australia and Ukraine shared the second spot on the medal table with two gold medals each. The United States, Finland, Algeria, Belarus, Canada, Tunisia, Japan and Morocco also made it to the gold medal tally, winning one gold medal each.
In Rowing competition, the United States won silver and bronze on Thursday. The mixed four with coxswain took silver while four time Paralympian Laura Schwanger took the bronze in individual competition. Jamie Dean was part of the crew that enjoyed a silver medal performance.
Britain's cyclists excelled again - this time on the road - with Rachel Morris, David Stone and Sarah Storey - all claiming gold. Morris, who is a hand-cycling world champion, dominated the field to win gold in the women's time trial (HCA/B/C) by almost three minutes. Stone won the mixed individual time trial (CP1/2) in 22:14.86.
The USA Men's Wheelchair Basketball team is on to the quarterfinals in Beijing following their win against Australia on Thursday. Iran is their next opponent on Saturday. The ladies remain undefeated at these games after their 68-38 victory against Brazil Thursday morning. Medal round play begins today.
A crash in Monday night's final of the Women's 5000m - T54 forced organizers to reschedule the event to Friday morning. In the re-run of the event, Amanda McGregory of the United States won the gold, Diane Roy of Canada picked up the silver.
The ongoing Beijing Paralympics is as brilliant as the Olympics that was wrapped up last month, head of the French Federation of Disability Sport said Thursday.
Oscar Pistorius or more popularly known as the 'Blade Runner' because of his prosthetic legs has won the 100m men's final. He won it in a time of 11.17 seconds, while American Jerome Singleton was close behind in 11.20 seconds and another American Brian Frasure was third clocked at 11.50 seconds.
Diane Roy will officially be recorded as the silver medalist in the T54 women's 5,000 meters wheelchair race at the 2008 Paralympics. But the veteran Paralympian from Hatley, Que., says she will always consider herself the gold medalist.
Irish footballer Derek Malone has been excluded from the Paralympics because his disability with cerebral palsy was not deemed serious enough.
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