A Paralympic athlete gets off a bus yesterday in Beijing. Barrier-free facilities have been installed on buses, taxis and subway stations to provide a convenient environment for the athletes. The city is expecting some 1,900 athletes who travel on wheelchairs—from a total of 4,000 athletes—at the Paralympics, which kick off this Saturday.—Xinhua

The organizers of the Beijing Paralympics would set a good model for future hosts, the president of the International Paralympic Committee said yesterday.

The Paralympics, the world's premier sporting event for elite athletes with disabilities, will open in Beijing on Saturday, two weeks after the Chinese capital successfully hosted the Olympics.

Philip Craven, who has been in Beijing for the past five weeks, said he was impressed by the preparation work done by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games when addressing a meeting of IPC executives.

"I would like to, on behalf of the whole Paralympic family, thank BOCOG and China for the incredible transition that has taken place here in Beijing and also in (co-host city) Qingdao," Craven said.

In line with China's motto for the Paralympics, comparing it with the Olympics- "Two Games with Equal Splendor"- the Chinese government has endeavored to make Beijing and co-host cities Qingdao and Hong Kong as accessible as possible for Paralympians and spectators.