Beijing has braced itself for the opening of the largest Paralympics Saturday, promising to re-enact the dazzle of the recently concluded Olympic ceremony.
'After seven years of untiring efforts, preparatory work for the Beijing Paralympic Games has been completed,' said Wang Wei, spokesman of the Beijing Paralympics at a press conference Friday.
Around 4,000 athletes from 148 countries and regions will participate in 20 sports at the 13th Paralympics from Sep 6 to Sep 17.
Students from the Tagou martial arts school practice at a training base on the outskirts of Beijing on Friday. More than 2,000 students from the school in Henan province will perform during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Paralympic Games on Saturday. [Agencies] more photos |
According to Wang, preparation of venues and registration of athletes have finished and some 178,000 Games-related staff and more than 400,000 volunteers are in place.
Evaluation of the impairment classification for the athletes has been completed Thursday to ensure 'fair play'.
Under the principle of 'Two Games, Equal Splendour', the host has beefed up its $100-million budget for the Paralympics to further improve its facilities at competition venues, athlete village, airports, public traffic system, hotels, hospitals and scenic spots like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.
At least one third of all the entrances at every competition venue are widened to allow wheelchairs to pass and more than 3,000 barrier-free buses and taxies are put into service.
Meanwhile the Paralympic Torch returned to Beijing Friday after an eight-day tour in 10 Chinese cities on two routes and a joint rehearsal for the opening ceremony was successfully held at the Bird's Nest National Stadium Thursday evening.
Wang said there would be enough seats for more than 2,000 athletes on wheelchairs and other spectators with disabilities, who would attend the opening ceremony.
'We are all set for the exciting moment (of the grand opening) to come and we have confidence to present the world a wonderful Games again,' said Wang.
Safety remains at the top of the organizers' agenda as the strict security measures during the Olympics will be followed at the 11-day Paralympics.
'We will never underestimate any threat and we will first ensure safety of the Games,' said Wang.
More than 100,000 officers will be deployed across the city, and security teams will be based at 17 competition venues, 29 training bases and 16 designated hotels.
'While the scale of the Paralympics is much smaller than the Olympics, the number of police on duty across the city will be the same,' said Zhu Yijun, a senior police officer with the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Police and security check personnel have received training on how to deal with people with various disabilities to respect their independence and privacy, said Zhu.
