China to send biggest ever team to Rio Paralympics

Press conference of the Chinese Sports Delegation to 2016 Paralympic Games is held in Beijing on Aug 3, 2016. [Photo by Chen Mengwei/chinadaily.com.cn]

China will send its biggest ever team to the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, according to Wang Meimei, deputy head of the Chinese delegation.

A total of 308 disabled athletes from China will compete in Brazil next month, 26 more than previous years. Among them are 161 men and 147 women, who will participate in 328 events covering 17 sports, setting another record.

Alongside them will be 177 coaches and support staff, as well as 14 assistants to help those who have severe physical disabilities. The 499-strong delegation is the largest China has ever sent overseas to a Paralympics.

Nearly half the team — 134 people — have never been to a Paralympics before. In addition, 46 percent have earned a junior college degree or higher, a greater percentage than any previous Chinese delegation.

Among Asian nations, China is the only country that will compete in the men's goalball (a ballgame for the visually impaired) and women's wheelchair basketball events.

Li Hanhua, one of the athletes, said, "life is not perfect, but thanks to sports, we get a chance to go beyond ourselves."