BEIJING, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- One male and one female athlete who best exemplify the spirit of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games will receive the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said.

    The IPC said in a statement that "the prize is for Paralympians who not only achieve sporting excellence, but also exceptionally inspire and excite the world", and the winners of the prize will each receive a medal made out of 75 grams pure gold at the closing ceremony on Sept. 17.

    The Chefs de Mission of all participating countries and regions can nominate two candidates, a male and a female, for this award "regardless of the outcome of their competition" at the Games, the IPC said.

    After all nominations are received, a selection committee will choose six finalists who will then move into the second round of the selection process. Two winners will be selected from the top six.

    The Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award is named after South Korean Whang Youn Dai, who was stricken with polio at the age of three. She contributed her life for the development of Paralympic sport around the world.

    At the 1988 Paralympic Summer Games in Seoul, the IPC recognized her life-long contribution to the Paralympic Movement and thus established the award. Since then, this award was presented at every Paralympic Games to one male and one female athlete.