This photo taken on Aug 16, 2024 shows a general view at the inaugural meeting of the Chinese delegation for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]
The Olympic excitement may have cooled down with summer's end, but for Paralympians, the Games are just heating up. China's 516-member Paralympic delegation was officially formed in Beijing on Friday, and all set to compete in Paris with pride and integrity.
The Paris Paralympic Games, set for Aug 28 to Sept 8, will mark the French capital hosting the event for the first time.
This year's Games will feature 22 sports and 549 events, 10 more than the Tokyo Paralympics.
Over 4,400 athletes from more than 160 countries and regions are expected to compete in the event. Featuring a blend of youth and experience, China's delegation will take part in 19 sports and 302 events including archery, athletics, badminton, wheelchair basketball, fencing and tennis.
China's delegation for the upcoming Paris Paralympics, marking its 11th appearance at the Summer Paralympic Games, includes 126 male and 158 female athletes, supported by 232 coaches and staff.
The athletes have an average age of 25.8 years, with 48-year-old table tennis player Xiong Guiyan as the oldest competitor and 15-year-old swimmer Zhu Hui as the youngest. The team also includes 12 athletes from minority ethnic groups.
All athletes are amateurs, representing a variety of professions, ranging from workers and farmers to students, civil servants and freelancers. Of the participants, 189 athletes have previously competed in the Paralympics, while 95 are set to make their debut.
Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, will head the delegation, which aims to push boundaries, pursue excellence and showcase both their spirit and sportsmanship.
Their mission also includes fostering international friendships, achieving success in both competition and cultural values, and deepening cultural exchange and cooperation with the host country.
China made its Paralympic debut in 1984 at the seventh edition of the Games in New York, sending a delegation of 24 athletes to compete in athletics, archery and table tennis. The team earned an impressive 24 medals including two golds.
In the years that followed, China's performance saw significant improvement. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, the nation dominated the Games, winning 89 golds, 70 silvers, and 52 bronzes — a total of 211 medals — topping both the gold and overall medal tables.
In 2021, at the 16th Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Team China continued its winning streak, capturing 207 medals including 96 golds, and securing first place in both the gold medal count and overall standings for the fifth consecutive time.