BEIJING, China - Beijing calls this Olympic Games, "One World, One Dream." My  wheelchair restricted Olympian dad and I call our experience to China's capital city symbolic of "One Big Helping Hand."

Why? One moment after another, Dad and I continued to be awestruck by the lengths people - complete strangers - have been going to assist us, acknowledge us and sometimes simply clear the way.

We traveled well prepared for self-sufficiency. Realistic about how we'd traverse the airport, the city and take in the games within our own set boundaries, I've been wearing flat rubber sole shoes and a modest-sized backpack carrying all our little essentials. Dad has been hands free in his brand new, thick-cushioned royal blue wheelchair.

We've been a great team out to master our own Olympic sport: attending the games with one pair of able legs and a set of four wheels. Piece of cake, I figure.

Yet when strangers - young and old, on the job or taking in sights - spot us there have been Moses-like parting of sea moments. We've lost count how many times this has happened. Still each time, we are overtly surprised and grateful.

Some politely step aside when we approach and then others shuffle to our aid - hands reaching in but to help. Some lift his chair so we can maneuver over high steps or over the broadcast TV cables stretching across roads and sidewalks. Others push my hands off the handles and push the chair with enthusiasm. Beautiful reinforcements to the long-held reputation many Asian communities have about their respect, duty and honor of their elders.

I have been astounded the Olympic motto could apply here: citius, altius, fortius - faster, higher, stronger. When have you ever seen a three-person team of men manually hoist an elderly man along with his 25-pound wheelchair into an exceptionally tall eight-person van? No complaints, no hesitation. Just a go-to, how-do-we-get-the-job-done approach.

It's Day 4 into our journey and I've only had to push Dad's wheelchair two times for any great distance. And what do the lovely people who care for us seek in return? Nothing.

But I tell ya, the giggles we hear from our simple thank you of "xie xie" (pronounced sheay-sheay) and if we happen to have one handy, a CNN Olympic pin, are some of one of the most beautiful gifts we've enjoyed here.

It's the icing on the cake for us. Dad and I have been looking forward to this journey for a while.

Dad came here to reunite with teammates from the 1948 London Games: Two-time gold medalist platform and springboard diver Sammy Lee, bronze long jumper Herb Douglas and gold medal sprinter and hurdler Harrison Dillard.

It was a beautiful reunion of octogenarians who shared adversities like living during the Great Depression, enduring segregation and fighting in World War II,

So a tearful, emotion-filled, bear-hugging celebration between the four is exactly what I and about 20 other "Olympic family members witnessed.

Dad is 83 now but he still has an unbelievable vivid memory filled with a lifetime of travels and adventures. I believe Dad when he says this has been one of his best Olympic game experiences for him ever,  one filled with Olympian friends from 60 years ago along with countless strangers who treated us like long-missed family.