(BEIJING, September 6) -- The China Millennium Monument in Beijing was surrounded by colorful flags and bright lights Thursday night. Over 5,000 people from Beijing and throughout the world jointly celebrated the one-year countdown to the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

At the ceremony, Mr. Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, announced the planned torch relay route for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Mr. Liu Qi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, secretary of the Beijing Municipal CPC Committee and president of the Beijing organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee, attended the ceremony. Sir Craven presented invitation letters for the Beijing Paralympics to representatives of various national and regional Paralympic Committees (NPCs).

In his speech Mr. Jia Qinglin discussed China's efforts and achievements in its cause for people with a disability, who have made outstanding contributions to the nation's social-economic development and have won broad respect from the whole society.

With the support of the Chinese government and people, Jia said, preparations for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games are progressing smoothly. "Through the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, we will further show the spirit of persons with a disability that is inherent in their self-renewal and independence and promote the development of Paralympic sports," he said.

He urged the Paralympics organizers to try their best to carry forward Paralympic spirits, foster a good social atmosphere of caring and assistance to people with a disability, further strengthen cooperation and friendship with people with a disability from all over the world and construct a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous world.

Mr. Liu Qi told the audience that in preparing for the Paralympics, all Paralympic venues except the National Stadium and the Paralympic Village will be completed by the end of this year and more than 400,000 university students and people from all sectors of society have registered as volunteers of the Paralympic Games.

Barrier-free facilities are being built in all the important public areas of Beijing. The "Welcome the Olympics, Promote Civility and Create a Sound Social Environment" activity has been popularized in the capital and across the country. More and more citizens are devoted to caring for the lives of people with a disability, protecting their rights, promoting their development and supporting their cause.

In his speech, Sir Philip Craven said the Paralympics provide an opportunity for the athletes to showcase themselves. On behalf of the IPC, he thanked China for its efforts and announced that Beijing will be the world's capital of the Paralympic sports until the end of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Mr. Deng Pufang, President of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, said that, in the year to come, people with a disability will continue to join the entire nation in actively and enthusiastically supporting the preparations for the Paralympics. The Chinese athletes look forward to joining athletes from around the world to carry out the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius," interpret the Olympic goal of "peace, friendship and progress" and show the glamour of "equal participation" as well as put into practice the idea of "Transcendence, Equality and Integration" in the Beijing Paralympics.

At 8:20 pm, the IPC anthem was played, and the IPC and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games flags entered the stage to join more than 160 flags of various countries and regions or NPC flags. The presidents of the Canadian, British, Russian and Chinese NPCs were respectively presented with invitation letters for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games from Mr. Liu Qi and Sir Philip Craven.

Later, Mr. Jia and Sir Craven pressed the button together to announce the planned torch relay route for the Beijing Paralympics.

According to the organizers, "Transcendence, Equality and Integration" is the theme of the torch relay. "Light the Passion, Share the Dream" is its slogan. The torch will be lit on August 28, 2008 at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and the torch relay will continue for 10 days. The relay in China and abroad will proceed at the same time.

The planned torch relay route will cross "Paralympic cities" from Beijing (host city of the 13th Paralympic Games) to Vancouver (host city of the 10th Paralympic Winter Games in 2010) to London (host city of the 14th Paralympic Games in 2012) to Sochi (host city of the 11th Paralympic Winter Games in 2014) to Hong Kong (co-host city of the 13th Paralympics, equestrian events). The two other routes will be the "Modern China" and "Ancient China" routes. The "Modern China" route will cross Shenzhen, Chongqing, Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian and Tianjin and the "Ancient China" route will cross Huangdi Mausoleum, Xi'an, Hohhot, Urumqi, Chengdu, Changsha, Nanjing and Luoyang. The three torches will finally meet in Beijing and light the main cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games on September 6, 2008.

The choir "We Are Ready" brought the celebration to the climax. Mr. Wang Qishan, mayor of Beijing and executive president of BOCOG presided over the celebration.