Something definitely got lost in the translation

The training manual for thousands of volunteers working the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics is going through a rewrite because of "inappropriate language" used to describe disabled athletes.
About 20 pages from the 200-page English-language document were unavailable online yesterday following complaints about clumsy stereotypes.
Zhang Qiuping, director of Beijing's Paralympic Games, did not offer an apology and attributed the problems to poor translation.
"Probably it's cultural difference and mistranslation," Zhang said yesterday.
The Chinese-language version of the text remained online and was nearly identical to the English, using essentially the same stereotypes to refer to the disabled.
A section dedicated to the disabled says that "paralympic athletes and disabled spectators are a special group. They have unique personalities and ways of thinking."
To handle the "Optically Disabled," the guide offers the following: "Often the optically disabled are introverted. They have deep and implicit feelings and seldom show strong emotions. ... Remember, when you communicate with optically disabled people, try not to use the world 'blind' when you meet for the first time."
On the "Physically Disabled," the guide suggests: "Physically disabled people are often mentally healthy. They show no differences in sensation, reaction, memorization and thinking mechanisms from other people, but they might have unusual personalities because of disfigurement and disability.
The guide says volunteers should "not fuss or show unusual curiosity, and never stare at their disfigurement."
It also advises volunteers to steer away from words like "cripple or lame, even if you are just joking."
GATLIN AWAITS DECISION
American sprinter Justin Gatlin will find out next week if he can try to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said yesterday it will release its verdict June 6 on the Olympic 100-metre champion's doping ban appeal. The 26-year-old sprinter is seeking a further reduction in a four-year suspension.
GOING FOR THE GAMES
The real race for the 2016 Olympic Games is about to begin.
On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee will whittle the list of seven applicant cities down to an unspecified number of finalists that can continue their efforts to win the games.
Organizers in Chicago are confident the IOC will determine they can clear that hurdle, which boils down to whether the city has the technical ability to host an Olympic Games.
Then they have to convince IOC members that Chicago is the best site for the games.
HAMM HAMMERS AWAY
Olympic gold medalist Paul Hamm isn't wasting time.
The gymnast already is three days ahead of schedule in his recovery, his surgeon said yesterday. Hamm was able to make a fist when his bandages were removed, just two days after surgery to repair the broken bone in his right hand.