China's Paralympic delegation makes first official appearance

The Chinese delegation to the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics was officially unveiled in Beijing on Monday. It is the country's sixth delegation to compete in the Winter Paralympics since 2002.

It is composed of 217 delegates, including 96 athletes and 121 members responsible for coaching, assistance and healthcare, according to a news release from the China Disabled Persons' Federation on Monday.

The average age of athletes is 25, with the oldest, a 45-year-old named Zhang Haiyuan participating in the Alpine ski event. The youngest athlete in the delegation is 17-year-old Geng Yanhong, who will compete in the snowboard event.

The athletes — who come from 12 provinces and regions — are all amateurs and are students, farmers, employees and freelancers.

They will compete in 73 events in six sports, including wheelchair curling, para ice hockey, cross-country skiing, biathlon, Alpine skiing and snowboarding, and 85 are competing at the Games level for the first time.

The federation said that this year's is the biggest delegation China has sent to the Games, and it hopes athletes will show the world their spirit of striving and self-discipline.