The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has formally informed BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad) of the specified time for the staging of the Paralympic Games and the composition of sporting events. Details are as follows:

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games will be inaugurated on September 6, 2008 (Saturday), and will close on September 17, (Wednesday). There will be a total of 20 sports for the Beijing Paralympics, including archery, athletics, boccia, wheelchair basketball, cycling, equestrian, wheelchair fencing, football 5-a-side, football 7-a-side, goal-ball, judo, weightlifting, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, volleyball, wheelchair ruby, wheelchair tennis, and rowing. Compared with the composition for Athens Paralympics, rowing is a completely new sport for the Beijing Paralympics.

BOCOG has been preparing for the 29th Olympic Games (Beijing Olympics) and the 13th Paralympic Games (Beijing Paralympics) at the same time.

On the 51st BOCOG Executive Board Session held on March 2, Liu Qi, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and BOCOG President, reiterated that the Beijing Paralympics will be equally as wonderful as the Beijing Olympics, and will also be regarded as a “high-level Olympics with distinguishing features.”

According to officials, the preparatory work for the Paralympics, along with that for the Olympics, is proceeding smoothly. Officials said that, along with the unveiling of the Beijing Paralympic Games emblem on July 13, 2004, people's awareness and respect for the physically challenged have increased and their passion for the 2008 Paralympic Games has been further aroused.

(BOCOG May 19, 2005)