Chinese archery athlete Gan Jun takes part in a training session ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France, Aug 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
As the Paris Paralympic Games are on the horizon, the Chinese Paralympic delegation has arrived at the Paralympic Village in Paris, where preparations are now in their final stages. The delegation, poised and ready, is hopeful for strong results as the competition begins.
Zhang Chenglin, a staff from the delegation's sports & competition team, noted that China will be fielding 19 teams in total at the Paris Paralympic Games. As of now, 18 teams have already moved into the village, with the canoeing team expected to arrive shortly.
According to Zhang, the teams arrived in Paris on Aug 21 in two separate batches. Recently, athletes have settled into their routines, with training progressing smoothly. Equipment checks conducted by the International Paralympic Committee have all been successfully completed.
"Currently, all teams are engaged in adaptive training, with preparations fully in place. Operations are running smoothly, safely, and with precision as we gear up for the start of the Games," he said.
According to Ma Litao, head of the delegation's general office, a key focus has been the safeguarding of athletes' well-being amid the significant temperature differences between Paris and China in recent days. He stated that the delegation has intensified efforts to ensure proper accommodation, sleep, nutrition, and the management of any temporary health concerns.
Ma pointed out that a key distinction between the Paralympic and Olympic Games lies in the fact that all Paralympic athletes have varying degrees of disabilities. As a result, the foremost priority in both training and competition is ensuring athlete safety, preventing further injuries, and avoiding any worsening of existing conditions.
The medical team supporting the Chinese Paralympic delegation plays a critical role, overseeing pre-competition training precautions and providing timely medical and rehabilitation services.
Xu Min, a staff member of the medical team, noted that the 23-person multidisciplinary group is composed of specialists in orthopedics, rehabilitation, endocrinology, ophthalmology, and more, drawn from both sports-specific hospitals and leading general hospitals.
The Paris Paralympic Games, which run from Aug 28 to Sept 8, will feature 22 sports and 549 events. China's 284 athletes will compete in 19 sports and 302 events.