体坛英语新闻：Paralyzed Chinese gymnast cites employee's responsibility in 1.8b lawsuit

NEW YORK, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Sang Lan, 29, a paralyzed former Chinese champion gymnast, attributed her paralysis at the 1998 Goodwill Games to the employee's negligence in her lawsuit against organizers the Time Warner inc. and the US Gymnastics Federation demanding a 1.8 billion dollar compensation the week in New York City .

The complaint cited the incident was caused by an employee of the defendants the Time Warner and the US Gymnastics Federation, who disturbed Sang Lan for walking into vault area after Sang pushed off the vault before her landing.

Sang's file claimed that the employee tried to remove a mat from where she was about to land. Sang fell and hit her head on the floor, leading to permanent disability for her chest down and the immobility of her two arms and hands.

The lawsuit was carried off in the federal court South District of New York. In the case, Sang's lawyer Hai Ming blamed the defendants breaking promises to care for Sang afterward.

The complaint shows, on July 21st, 1998, when Sang Lan was only 17 years old, a minor, she arrived in New York as a member of the Chinese team to compete in the Goodwill Games.

During warm-ups, Sang Lan fell while she was performing a timer. She could not raise herself from the mat and was taken to the hospital.

The defendants had no comment on the veiling of the suit on Thursday. Hai explained why they instituted legal proceedings after 13 years on court.

"Sang Lan has been on wheelchair for the past 13 years, with no compensatory damages nor proper medical care coverage for her from the injury. She lives on a salary of 1600 RMB a month," said Hai on Friday in an interview with Xinhua.

"She was injured and paralyzed from chest down in 1998 Good Will Game in New York, as a member of the Chinese gymnastic team. Defendants have evaded liabilities and responsibilities for her.

"One of the defendants, the TIG insurances company has refused to cover her medical care, merely because she does not live in the US, which creates uneaulity based on nationality for disabled person. Justice may be late for her after 13 years, but better than never," added Hai.