Chinese Paralympians Greeted at Village Flag-Raising CeremonyThe Chinese delegation had its national flag raised as they were welcomed in a hearty ceremony at the Paralympic Village Saturday in Sydney.Peter Trotter, deputy mayor of the Village, addressed the ceremony that the organizers have done their best to ensure the athletes to perform up to their best. "We have been excellent in the preparations so you the world best athletes could achieve your best," said Trotter. With athletes from more than one hundred countries and regions all over the world, the Village has become a truly multi-cultural place for the Paralympics, the top-level sports gathering for the world's elite athletes with a disability. "We will make everything possible to make your stay as comfortable as possible," he added. China, which finished ninth at the previous Paralympic Games in Atlanta, has sent a total of 87 athletes, the largest ever since 1984. It will compete in six sports and more than one hundred events in the Sydney Games, which open next Wednesday. "The achievements of China has been the treasurous part of the Paralympics history and I am sure you stand ready to write a new chapter in the coming days," said Trotter. He presented a Coolamon, a traditional wooden carrying dish used to be one of the daily-life tools for the Australian Aborigines, to the Chinese delegation, who returned with an exquisitely-made porcelain vase. The Paralympic Village continues to welcome athletes and officials with the bulk of the 7,000 residents expected in their accommodation by Saturday. The Sydney Paralympics Organizing Committee is expecting up to 4,000 athletes, 2,000 team officials and 1,000 technical officials from 125 countries and regions. |
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