Beijing Olympics Committee Sorry for Booklet

Organizers of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games have had to apologize after it was discovered that a 200-page training manual for the 100,000 volunteers contained inappropriate language in reference to disabled people. 

Thirty percent of the volunteers are expected to work at the Paralympic Games.  Here are some examples of the wording used:

• When working with the blind – “try not to use the word ‘blind’ when you meet for the first time.”
• Physically disabled -  “unusual personalities because of disfigurement” and “can be stubborn and controlling.”
• “For example, some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial and introspective; they usually do not volunteer to contact people” and “sometimes they are overly protective of themselves, especially when they are called ‘crippled’ or ‘paralyzed.’”
• “never stare at their disfigurement” and to not use words like “cripple or lame, even if you are just joking.”

Wow… that is pretty insulting.  In response, the the Beijing Olympic organizing committee removed the manual’s English version from its website, are rewriting the manual and issued this statement:

“We would like to express our deepest apologies to those organizations, athletes with disabilities and friends who were offended by our publication”

I would be lying if I said I was not absolutely stunned.  I’m completely unimpressed by their lack of having the manual proofread by someone other than themselves since the event includes people from all over the world.  I’m happy they apologized.

image provided by Newscom