China expands sport opportunities for disabled people

People’s Daily online

30th October 2023

China expands sport opportunities for disabled people

In recent years, China has made strides in developing sports for people with disabilities, and the competitive athletic performance within this community has steadily improved. Additionally, there has been a significant expansion of grassroots sports programs and activities targeting individuals with disabilities nationwide.

In China, an increasing number of athletes with disabilities are participating in both domestic and international sporting events.

In 1984, at the 7th Paralympic Games held in New York, a Chinese delegation comprising 24 athletes with disabilities participated in athletics, swimming, and table tennis events, achieving remarkable success.

Since then, the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) has consistently provided opportunities for athletes with disabilities to compete in the Paralympic Games, steadily improving their performance.

Throughout the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), Chinese athletes participated in 160 international sporting events for individuals with disabilities, securing a total of 1,114 gold medals.