Just 50 days to go until 2010 Asian Para Games

There are just 50 days to go until 3,000 athletes from 41 countries descend on the ‘Flower City’ Guangzhou, China for the 2010 Asian Para Games which start on 12 December.

This is the first major multi-sport event in Asia since the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and is set to see some of the biggest names in Paralympic Sport compete in 19 different events during the week long Games.

Formerly known as the Far East and South Pacific Games of the Disabled which were held on nine previous occasions, the first Asian Para Games will be act as the last major gathering of Asian multi-sport athletes before the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The Mayor of Guangzhou, Wan Qingliang, recently declared that his city is ready to host the Games and detailed that the transition from Asian Games to the Asian Para Games will start on 28 November, the day after the Closing Ceremony of the Asian Games.

All venues will be ready for 11 December, the day before the Opening Ceremony for the Asian Para Games which will take place in the 80,000 capacity Guangdong Aoti Stadium.

Daituk Zainal Abu Zarin, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board member and president of the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) said: "I visited a number of venues, including the athletes' Games Village. The organizers have prepared excellent facilities for athletes with a disability at the Games Village, competitions venues, airport and also tourist spots."

The Games have captured the imagination of people in China with more than 1.5 million people applying to be a volunteer for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

A total of 25,000 people have been recruited as Games-time volunteers for the Asian Para Games and some 500,000 as city volunteers for both the Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

The 19 sports which athletes will be competing are: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boccia, Cycling, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Goalball, Judo, Powerlifting, Rowing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Ten Pin Bowling, Volleyball (sitting), Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Tennis.