Guangzhou, May 30 - The Guangzhou Asian Para Games Organising Committee (GAPGOC) concluded a very successful two-day Chefs de Mission Seminar for the 2010 Asian Para Games yesterday (May 29) with the President of the Asian Paralympic Committee, Dato' Zainal Abu Zarin, giving the Chinese organisers "two thumbs way up and let's Go! Go! Go!"
The Debriefing & Closing Ceremony of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games Chefs de Mission Seminar is held on Saturday (May 29) afternoon.
APC President Dato' Zainal Abu Zarin at the Debriefing & Closing Ceremony of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games Chefs de Mission Seminar
The Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games are scheduled for December 12-19.
This major sport event will follow the 16th Asian Games with the Opening Ceremony slated for December. Guangzhou will host both the 16th Asian Games and the 2010 Asian Para Games, marking the first time the two Games to be held in one city.
Delegates from different countries and regions at the Debriefing & Closing Ceremony of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games Chefs de Mission Seminar
Chef de Mission attendees agreed with Mr Abu Zarin that the 2010 Asian Para Games will strongly promote the development of sport in Asia; create all new opportunities for athletes with a disability across China and throughout Asia and that it would also have a lasting impact on the fostering of a more civilised society in Guangzhou. The 2010 Asian Para Games will feature 19 sports, including 17 Paralympic sports and two non-Paralympic sports. The 17 Paralympic sports are:
Athletics
Swimming
Archery
Shooting
Boccia
Wheelchair Fencing
Powerlifting
Judo
Goalball
Football 7-a-Side
Cycling
Wheelchair Tennis
Rowing
Table Tennis
Volleyball Sitting
Wheelchair Basketball and
Football 5-a-Side
The two non-Paralympic sports will be Badminton and Bowling.
Fifteen sports among them - Athletics, Swimming, Archery, Shooting, Wheelchair Fencing, Powerlifting, Judo, Goalball, Football 7-a-Side, Cycling, Wheelchair Tennis, Table Tennis, Volleyball Sitting, Wheelchair Basketball and Football 5-a-Side - will also be included in the London 2010 Paralympic Games.
There will be 26 venues for the Games, including 19 competition venues and seven training venues, clustered in four major areas:
The Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre
Tianhe Sports Centre
Higher Education Mega Centre and
Asian Games Town
These venues will be equally shared by both the 16th Asian Games and the Asian Para Games.
(Jeff Ruffolo)
