It is a new chapter(篇章) for the Paralympics movement in Asia, as the inaugural(開幕辭) Asian Para Games opened its arms to around 2500 disabled athletes from all around the continent here on Sunday.

Asia has a long and proud history in staging(籌劃) major Paralympic events, dating back(追溯到) to the first FESPIC Games (the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled) in 1975. But it is the first time that a multi-sport para games run parallel to the Asian Games.

After just two years of preparation, the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games Organizing Committee (GAPGOC) is ready for the new born event to embark(從事，著手) and their well-organized preparation work is labeled(標(biāo)為) as a "benchmark" by the president of Asian Paralympic Committee Dato' Zainal Abu Zarin for the future host cities to follow.

More than 25,000 volunteers are trained to provide assistance for disabled athletes. They have received special training in details including how to express their willingness to help and how to push wheelchair to make disabled persons feel comfortable.

Accessible facilities, such as rampways(斜道), blind walkways(盲道) and lower counters(柜臺) in the Games Village as well as other parts of the city has been set up or renewed(更新) to make sure the athletes can enjoy a barrier-free(無障礙) Asian Para Games with the official slogan(口號) "We Cheer, We Share, We Win".