Athletes who competed at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics were ushered into the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing on Wednesday night for the Games' closing ceremony.

The athletes prade took place more than half an hour ahead of the ceremony's formal start, scheduled for 8 p.m., an arrangement quite different from the previous Games. Usually the athletes would enter the stadium en masse after the ceremony begins.

The Paralympians, many in wheelchairs or on crutches, all looked very excited and waved hands or flags toward the cheering crowd on the stands. Some of them had the medals they won at these Games around their necks and walked in pride.

Several foreign athletes were seen showing a banner written in Chinese, which read "Love Beijing, Love the Paralympics."

Dozens of large post boxes were laid on the track of the Bird's Nest. According to a special arrangement designed by the Games organizers, every participant of the ceremony, including the athletes, would be invited to write down their blessings and wishes on a post card exclusively prepared for the occasion.

Some 1,000 postmen and postwomen would tour the stadium stands and the entire ground to distribute and collect these cards, and then cast them into the post boxes. The cards will be delivered gratis to their destinations worldwide by China Post the next day.

The total number of the cards is expected to reach about 100,000.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2008)