The upcoming Beijing Paralympics will be as splendid as the Beijing Olympic Games, President of the Italian Paralympic Committee Luca Pancalli said on Thursday.

Before heading to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympics scheduled for Saturday, Pancalli, also head of the Italian delegation, told Xinhua that Italy sends 84 athletes to compete in 12 games, including cycling, swimming and fencing.

"Our goal is to win at least 15 medals at the Beijing Paralympic Games," he said, "The Chinese team is a strong rival for us, and I hope that Chinese athletes will perform well."

While praising Beijing's amazing organization work at the Olympic Games, he said the sports event also impressed the people around the world with its splendid opening and closing ceremonies.

Pancalli said compared with the Athens Paralympics, there are more countries and people to attend the Beijing Games. "It is very important, and I hope this Games will encourage more disabled people to participate in sports."

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2008)