sep.10.2008
The 2008 Paralympic Games had a gala opening at the Bird's nest in Beijing, China last Saturday, the thirteenth Paralympics, is being held from September 6 to September 17. China is expected to field the most athletes.
As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao. With Over 4,200 athletes from 148 countries participatingt, this will be the largest ever number of nations at the Paralympic Games, and several countries will be competing for the first time
Trinidad and Tobago is not listed among the nations participating; a situation TTOC president Larry Romany says will change for London 2012.
" The local Paralympic Association is a TTOC affiliate and we will work with them to talent identify athletes who can qualify for 2012.We [TTOC] cannot consider ourselves all -inclusive and fulfilling our [sport -for- all] mandate if we continue to be absent from the Paralympic Games. I feel strongly about this and am personally committed to doing everything possible to make it happen" said Romany
There are 20 sports on the paralympic programme.