Following is the full text of the speech delivered by Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) at the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games on Wednesday night:

Closing Speech for the XIII Paralympic Games

17 September 2008

Zun Jing de Hu Jintao zhu xi ji Fu Ren

(Respected President Hu Jintao and Mrs. Hu)

Athletes, Officials, Distinguished Guests

Paralympic Sports fans from all over the world:

Wan Shang hao Huan Ying Ni men

(Good Evening, Welcome to all of you)

2,500 years ago Confucius said, "You Peng Zi Yuan Fang Lai, Bu Yi Yue Hu? "

"There are friends who have come from afar, is that not after all delightful?"

On behalf of all members of the Paralympic Family, may I take the liberty to paraphrase the Good man's great words. "It is equally delightful to come from afar and make new friends here in China".

We have to give a big thank you to BOCOG and its President, Liu QI,

the athletes,

the fantastic volunteers,

The officials and staff of the IPC, the IFs and NPCs

the 5,500 media who have covered the Games and, in particular Manolo Romero and his team for the television images,

the sponsors

and last but certainly not least you, the inspirational spectators.

What a great Paralympic Games this has been!

An ethereal Opening Ceremony,

Staggering athletic performances in perfect stadia,

The best-ever Paralympic Villages,

Amazing high definition television coverage,

A never-ending and self-generating supply of passion and emotion,

Superb organisation

Wonderful volunteers

Millions of new Paralympic sports afficionados both here in China and around the world

These are the greatest Paralympic Games EVER.

It is all about spirit.

The Paralympic spirit that is ever bright in our movement, found here in China, a kindred spirit.  It reached out to you, you embraced it and it is now cherished in your hearts.  Now these spirits are united,

"One World"

"One Dream"

and "One People" has become a reality.

All athletes, coaches and officials should take the unique sporting spirit from these Games to the four corners of this planet, Earth. There, encourage new athletes, make new friends and inspire them to light the flame in their hearts.

Finally the time has come for me to declare the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games closed.

I call upon Paralympic athletes from all over the world to meet in London in four years time when once again you will inspire and excite the world with your sporting excellence.

Xie Xie Xiang Gang, (Thank you Hong Kong),

Xie Xie Qingdao, (Thank you Qingdao),

Xie Xie Beijing, (Thank you Beijing),

Xie Xie Zhong Guo. (Thank you China)!

尊敬的胡锦涛主席及夫人，

运动员们，

官员们，

尊敬的来宾们，

全世界的残奥会运动爱好者们:

晚上好，欢迎你们。

2500年前，孔子曾说过“有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎”。今天，请允许我代表所有残奥大家庭成员，冒昧地对圣人的这句名言做这样的阐发，我们自远方来，在中国结交朋友，同样乐在其中，我们衷心感谢。

我们衷心感谢北京奥组委刘淇主席，运动员们，优秀的志愿者们，国际残奥委委员，国际单项体育联合会及各国家和地区残奥委会的官员和工作人员，前来报道赛事的5500名媒体工作人员，特别是负责电视转播的马诺罗－罗梅罗先生和他的团队，以及所有赞助商。

最后，特别要感谢你们，热情洋溢的观众们，这是一届多么伟大的盛会，开幕式美轮美奂，体育场馆完美无暇，运动竞技表演令人叹为观止，残奥村条件之优越史无前例，高清电视转播令人称奇，志愿者们出类拔萃，千千万万的残奥体育迷在中国和世界各地涌现，这是有史以来最伟大的一届残奥会，这一切源自于精神的力量，这种精神就是残奥精神，它在我们运动中永放光芒。

如今，残奥精神在中国得到进一步发扬光大，它走近你们，你们拥抱它，将之珍藏于心。现在，这些精神汇聚在一起，同一个世界，同一个梦想，所有人都是同样的人，已成为现实，所有运动员、教练员和官员应该把本届残奥会独一无二的体育精神带往地球的四面八方，以此鼓励更多的人参与运动，结交朋友，点燃心灵之火。

最后，我宣布北京2008年残奥运动会闭幕，来自世界各地的残奥健儿，我在此号召你们四年后相聚伦敦，届时你们将再次展现高超的体育竞技水平，振奋人心，感动世界。

谢谢香港，

谢谢青岛，

谢谢北京，

谢谢中国。