China Games set to open in style

Beijing: More than 4,000 athletes are set for the opening on Saturday of what promises to be a dazzling Paralympics, with the head of the international movement predicting a "fantastic" Games.

Competitors from nearly 150 countries will battle for 472 gold medals in 20 sports at the iconic venues used for last month's Olympics such as the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium and the Water Cube.

"There are more countries than ever, more sports than ever and more athletes than ever. This is great news for the Paralympic movement," said International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven.

"They're going to be tremendous sports events, an incredible opportunity for Paralympians to just show what they can do, how they can perform, how they are very much the equal of their Olympic peers.

"I'm not going to tell you they're going to be the greatest Games before they even start but they're going to be fantastic."

The host nation, which topped the medals table at the 2004 Athens Paralympics with 63 golds ahead of Britain and Canada, is widely expected to dominate again - and even more comprehensively than at last month's Olympics.

"China is currently very strong across the board in Paralympic sport and, having seen their efforts at the Olympic Games, have shown that they intend to fully benefit from the home advantage of these Games," said British Chef De Mission Phil Lane.

Aside from China's seemingly inevitable domination of the Games, much attention will focus on South Africa's double amputee track sensation Oscar Pistorius - dubbed "Blade Runner" due to the specially adapted carbon fibre blades with which he has won a host of titles. Carrying the flag at the opening ceremony for South Africa will be Natalie du Toit, who finished 16th in the women's 10 kilometres marathon swim in the Olympics. - AFP