The Hangzhou Asian Para Games flame is ignited on October 12, 2023 in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, the host city for the first Asian Para Games. The flame lantern will be transported to Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, by high-speed train. Photo: Xinhua

The 4th Asian Para Games Village opened to athletes in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, on Monday with the host city committed to providing a barrier-free experience to competitors from across Asia.   

Additionally, a total of 600 people will take part in the torch relay for the Hangzhou Para Games, the organizers revealed at a press conference unveiling the torch relay route on Monday.

The Chinese delegation, which consists of 723 people with a total of 439 athletes, was welcomed to the village during a national flag raising ceremony. 

With an average age of 26.5 years, the Chinese delegation will compete in 22 sports and 397 events at the Para Games, which is scheduled to take place from October 22 to 28.

The largest non-competition venue at the Para Games, the village is the home of all athletes and team officials in Hangzhou. Covering an area of 325,000 square meters, it provides 3,446 rooms.

Majid Rashed, president of Asian Paralympic Committee, said at the ceremony that the village is the perfect place and that athletes will feel right at home.

"The Asian Para Games and the athletes living in this village will send a powerful message that people with disabilities can achieve something. By changing the way people with disabilities are viewed, we hope to create more opportunities, make more allies, and work together to build a more inclusive society," said Rashed.

Yao Gaoyuan, mayor of Hangzhou, said that the host city will go all out to create a safe, warm and comfortable home for the athletes and officials. 

Liu Guoqiang, coach of the national lawn bowls team, said that he felt at home when settling down at the village. 

"It's the first time for China to compete in the lawn bowls. Our dream is to sing the national anthem again at the venue," said Liu.

To provide tailor-made services, the village has a wheelchair dining area, a wheelchair charging pile and an assistive device repair shop. More than 30 barrier-free vehicles have been deployed for 24-hour transportation. 

The village has also set up leisure workshops to display hundreds of artworks created by people with disabilities. Traditional Chinese massage, physiotherapy and smart prosthetics are available for the athletes.

In addition, some 600 people, including 51 foreign torchbearers, will participate in the Hangzhou Para Games torch relay, which is set to kick off on Thursday at Qiandao Lake, Chun'an County of Hangzhou. 

Representatives of athletes, coaches and those who have contributed to the Para Games will pass the torch along a 235-kilometer route that winds through three landmark rivers in Hangzhou and finish at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Sunday to light the cauldron at the Games opening ceremony. 

Photo: Courtesy of Hangzhou Asian Para Games organizing committee

One of the torch bearers Mao Donglai, who works as a sign language host at the Hangzhou TV Station, told the Global Times that passing the flame is a symbol of passing the Olympic spirit and embodies equal participation and sharing.

"Like the 240,000 disabled friends in Hangzhou, we have been looking forward to this event for a long time. Being a torchbearer for the Games is both a supreme honor and a responsibility for me," said Dong.

Du Zuofeng, a senior official of the torch relay department of the Hangzhou Asian Para Games organizing committee, told the Global Times that a combination of the virtual and reality is one of the highlights of the torch relay. 

At the Chun'an station along the torch relay, innovative technology such as smart bionic hands, bionic legs and smart guide dogs will be integrated into the relay scene, Du said. 

"The intelligent guide dog is a four-legged robot that will guide visually impaired people with its visual recognition ability. Smart bionic legs and guide dog technology are being used for the first time in the torch relay. It is hoped that in this way, the notion of 'technology changes life and makes the impossible possible' can be conveyed to people and bring convenience to the lives of more disabled people," Du noted. 

Paralympic swimming champion Xu Jialing, rowing gold medalist Huang Chen and blind goalball champion Hu Mingyao are among the Chinese torch bearers.