The fifth edition of the Asian Para Games officially kicked off in Aichi, Japan, on Sunday, gathering nearly 3000 athletes from 45 countries and regions for a week of competition under the slogan 'Imagine One Heart.'
The continental event, scheduled from October 18 to 24, will feature 18 sports and around 500 medal disciplines. The opening ceremony took place at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
Athletes proceeded to the stadium via an installation shaped like a handcrafted tree, symbolizing unity and connection. The ceremony emphasized diversity and inclusivity through performances dedicated to Japanese culture and the spirit of para-sports.
The Chinese delegation entered the stadium led by Li Yuzhe, a para-taekwondo athlete, and Yan Panpan, a para-weightlifter. China sent 312 athletes as part of a 500-person delegation, marking the largest representation of China at foreign Asian Para Games. The average age of the Chinese participants is 28.8 years, and they will compete in 335 disciplines across 17 sports. The delegation includes athletes from various professional fields, such as workers, students, office employees, and freelancers.
Hideaki Omura, head of the Organizing Committee of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian and Paralympic Games, stressed the significance of para-sports in promoting mutual understanding and building a more inclusive society. He stated: 'I believe that the importance of para-sports lies not just in winning competitions, but in fostering awareness and understanding of diversity, and in contributing to the realization of an inclusive society where everyone recognizes and supports each other in shared life.'
Majid Rasheed, head of the Asian Paralympic Committee, praised the athletes for their dedication, determination, and courage, noting the power of sport in inspiring unity. Rasheed remarked: 'Sport unites people when the world can sometimes divide them. Here, our differences do not separate us; they make us stronger.'
The ceremony concluded with the lighting of the Asian Para Games torch after the final relay stage, which featured seven para-athletes from summer and winter disciplines. China participated in the fifth edition, aiming to continue its dominance after securing first place in the medal table in all four previous tournaments. These include the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou three years ago, where the host delegation won 214 gold, 167 silver, and 140 bronze medals.