Friday, April 11, 2008

Disabled Olympic torch bearer attacked in Paris becomes hero in China




Reuters reported that Chinese officials are upset by reports April 10 that Tibet protesters attempted to attack Jin Jing, a Paralympics fencer and Olympics torch bearer who uses a wheelchair, but China has embraced her as a hero for protecting the torch. According to Reuters, after the Paris attack, she is "becoming a symbol of China's defiance of global demonstrations backing Tibet."

"Her look of fierce determination as she shielded the torch, captured in snapshots of the scene, has now spread throughout China, inflaming simmering public anger at the protests," Reuters said.

CCTV has a TV news story about the incident in English, and a video of the attempted attacks has been posted on YouTube, as well as number tribute videos to Jin Jing.