Seven of 23 Paralympic traffic lanes will open today on Beijing's roads.

One of which is the highway linking Beijing Capital International Airport to Dongzhimen in the city center, Wang Li, deputy director of the Beijing traffic management bureau, told a briefing yesterday.

All other 16 lanes will open by Sept 5, a day before the Games open, she said

The surface marking on the Paralympic lanes - the five Olympic rings - will be the same as that used for the Olympic lanes, only the traffic logo sign will be different, she said.

"The traffic logo for the Paralympic lanes will be IPC (International Paralympic Committee)," Wang said.

Only vehicles with Paralympic permits and police vehicles will be allowed to use the lanes, she said.

Police will patrol the lanes 24 hours a day to ensure they are not used by other motorists.

"A penalty of 200 yuan ($27) will be imposed on motorists breaking the rule.

"Any one who ignores police directions and uses one of the lanes will be fined 1,800 yuan and detained," Wang said.

Meanwhile, the Temple of Heaven was closed to the public from 6 pm yesterday until today for the Paralympic torch lighting ceremony.

The ceremony will he held at the temple's park at 10:30 am today.

The torch will then travel through 10 cities in China before arriving back in Beijing for the opening of the Paralympic Games at the National Stadium on Sept 6.

Liu Qi, head of the organizing committee of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, said 16 state leaders, government officials, and members of royal families from 13 countries are expected to attend the Games.

Michaelle Jean, governor- general of Canada, will be one of the guests, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.

More than 5,000 athletes and 2,500 coaches from about 150 countries and regions will take part in the Paralympic Games.

(China Daily August 28, 2008)