The Paralympic emblem: "Sky, Earth and Human Beings"

Dubbed "Sky, Earth and Human Beings," the emblem of the Beijing Paralympics is a stylized figure of an athlete in motion, implying the tremendous efforts a disabled person has to make in sports as well as in everyday life.

With the unity and the harmony of "sky, earth and human beings," the emblem incorporates Chinese characters, calligraphy and the Paralympic spirit. It embodies the Paralympic motto of "Spirit in Motion" and reflects the integration of heart, body and spirit in human beings -- the core of the philosophy of Chinese culture. The three colors in the emblem represent the sun (red), the sky (blue) and the earth (green).

The Paralympic mascot: “Fu Niu Lele”

The design of Fu Niu Lele derives its inspiration from the ancient Chinese farming civilization.

It embodies the rich concept of the Beijing Paralympic Games. Cows, symbolic of a down-to-earth, diligent, staunch and never-say-die spirit, are adopted to show the unremitting spirit of physically-challenged athletes in being the best they can be. It dovetails with the upbeat spirit of Paralympians and the concept of "Transcendence, Equality, Integration" of the Beijing Paralympic Games.

The determined, optimistic and diligent spirit of cows reflects a positive attitude to life. The Paralympic Games calls for physically-challenged people to enjoy the same rights to compete in sports as anyone else, and to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world, and thus develop their strength to add vigor and vitality to social progress.

The mascot embodies the harmony between man and nature. As one of the animals closest to human beings, cows are well-known for their friendliness and their affinity to the humans who care for them. Throughout the history of the development of world civilization, poetry and songs have clearly expressed the aspiration of humankind for a harmonious life. Cows have often found their way into the natural, cozy and poetic country life reflected in literary and art works, showing public expectation for the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. In the traditional culture of China, cows are also depicted as animals considered auspicious in inviting good weather and bumper harvests.