The Dutch delegation marched in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games on Saturday night, making their 13th appearance at the world's premier sporting event for elite disabled athletes.

The Netherlands was one of the 23 countries that participated in the first Paralympics in 1960. It also competed in all the editions that followed.

The Netherlands is entering a team of 80 athletes -- 33 men and 47 women, in Beijing and will contest in 13 sports.

Lieske Libregts, the spokesperson for the Dutch team, told Xinhua that they hope to win six gold medals in Beijing and aim to finish in top 25 on the overall medal table, though the country was usually ranked between 10th and 15th at previous games.

Medal hopefuls include wheelchair bound Kenny van Weeghel, who took gold in 400 meters (T54) at the Athens Paralympics, and wheelchair tennis supremo Esther Vergeer, who won four golds in women's tennis in the two previous Paralympics.

The country finished 15th at the Sydney Paralympics with 30 medals including 12 gold. However, it fell to 27th in Athens with 29 medals including five gold.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2008)