Jessica Long, a 29-year-old American swimmer, won four medals at the Tokyo Paralympic Games（残奥会）. For years, the Games have given her the chance to compete at the highest level, and something to look forward to every four years. “Since 12, when I won my first gold in Athens, I’ve had a wish to let more people know what the Paralympic Games are,” says Jessica, who lost her lower legs when she was a baby because of illness.

Participation（参加）in the Paralympics is at an all-time high at the Tokyo games. But they are relatively new to most people.

As early as 1888, some deaf athletes created their own sports clubs in Berlin, Germany. But the idea of competitions for disabled athletes didn’t spread widely until World War Ⅱ, when it became a way to help the injured. Ludwig Guttmann, a doctor in Great Britain, was the leader of the movement. He believed that participating in sports would be a good form of mental and physical recovery（康复）.

In 1948, on the same day as the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games in London, Guttmann organized the first contest for disabled athletes, which he named the International Wheelchair Games. Sixteen people in wheelchairs competed in archery（射箭）during the games. Then the games became an annual event. And in 1952, the Netherlands sent a team, making the competition international.

In 1960, the games officially became the Paralympic Games. That year, more than 400 athletes with disabilities from 23 countries got together at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. They competed in archery, basketball, swimming and other events. Since then, the Paralympics have been held at once after the Olympics in the same host city. For people like Jessica, the Games are a gift. “I don’t know where life is going to take me,” Jessica says, “but the Paralympics have given me this wild, amazing journey.”

The Olympic Games, which date back to ancient Greece, have a long history. At that time, they were part of a festival in honor of Zeus, the king of the gods. 【小题1】

【小题2】 Over time, more events were added, including wrestling, boxing, and horse racing. The athletes from all over Greece came to compete and show their skills. The ancient Olympic Games were more than just a sporting event. They were also a time for Greeks to come together in peace. 【小题3】 The modern Olympic Games were held for the first time in Athens, Greece, in 1896. 【小题4】 Today, the Olympic Games are the world’s largest sporting games. They bring thousands of world champions together and unite millions of fans for the world’s most exciting sporting competition.

The Olympic Games have come a long way since their ancient beginnings. “Faster, Higher, Stronger” was the motto for over 120 years. 【小题5】 It means that we can only go faster, aim higher, and become stronger if we stand together.

Hangzhou hosted the 19th Asian Games from Sept 23 to Oct 8. 【小题1】

The venue (场馆) for the tennis finals of the Hangzhou Asian Games is sometimes called the “Small Lotus (莲花)”. On the top of the field, there are eight “petals” (花瓣). 【小题2】 It takes 15 minutes for each petal to open and close. It’s built this way for different kinds of weather.

Every dish at the Asian Games should be safe and healthy to eat. In the kitchen of the players’ village in Hangzhou, there is a special system that can tell people’s faces. 【小题3】 The managers of the kitchen will also get messages on their phones. There’s also a system to keep an eye on the temperature of the fridges.

Want to walk around at the fields but can’t make it in person? You can try the Hangzhou Asian Games’ metaverse (元宇宙)! There’s a mini program on Alipay. Inside, it’s like an online cartoon world. 【小题4】 Also, you can have your own character. You can choose clothes for your character who is able to “run” around the fields and even talk with other online users.

Say that you are in Hangzhou and going to watch one of the events. It will be sad if you can’t find your way. 【小题5】 You simply turn on your phone’s camera and it will see where you are and then show you the way. You can also get more information about the fields as you walk by.