Less than two weeks after the Olympic flame was extinguished at the Bird's Nest, Beijing will be back on Games-time footing from Saturday for the largest ever gathering of disabled athletes at the 13th Paralympics. China promised to stage the event under the principle of “Two Games, equal splendour” and the same stunning venues will be used for 11 days of competition involving more than 4,000 athletes from nearly 150 countries in 20 sports. Beijing's anti-pollution measures have remained in place, the security around the Chinese capital is just as tight and, as far as the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is concerned, the local organizers have been equally well prepared. “We'll have the most number of athletes, the most number of sports, the most number of countries ever. It'll be the biggest ever,” IPC President Philip Craven told Reuters in an interview. “This is a dangerous thing to say but I've never felt so relaxed before a Games.” Some 30,000 volunteers will serve the Sept. 6-17 Games, while 100,000 police will remain on alert around the city to counter the terrorist threat that China has always said was the biggest threat to the successful hosting of the two sporting events. China topped the medals table at the last Games in Athens and is likely to dominate here. Amputee swimmer Natalie Du Toit and “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius, both South Africans, will receive a lot of attention. Du Toit and Polish table tennis player Natalia Partyka are the only two athletes to appear at both Games this year. – Reuters __
