The 2010 Para Games of Asia (www.gzapg2010.cn/en/), part of the worldwide Paralympic Movement and governed by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) saw the official formation of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games Organizing Committee (GAPGOC) today.

Leaders from the relevant national ministries and commissions attending the formation of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games Organizing Committee included:

Liu Peng, President of GAPGOC and Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC); Huang Huahua, Executive President of GAPGOC and Governor of Guangdong Province; Wang Xinxian, Executive President of GAPGOC, Director General of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) and President of the National Paralympic Committee of China and Lv Shiming, Vice President of GAPGOC and Vice Chairman of the CDPF.

Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) sent a letter of congratulations to the new Para Games of Asia organizing Committee. In his congratulation letter, IPC President Craven expressed his confidence in the success of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games.

Zhang Guangning, Vice President and Secretary General of GAPGOC and Mayor of Guangzhou, said that the Games will be held in Guangzhou from December 12 to 19, 2010 “will feature 19 sports with approximately 3,000 athletes expected to participate; some 2,000 team officials, 1,100 technical officials and 2,000 news media are also expected to come to Guangzhou.”

Preparations for the Guangzhou Asian Para Games got underway in November last year. The compilation of The Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games Preparatory Work General Plan has been completed; the solicitation and selection of emblems and mascots for the Games is in the final stages and the Games’ official website in both Chinese and English versions has been launched.

In June 2009, the first Coordination Commission Meeting of the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) was held in preparation for the Games. Preparatory work in various areas is being carried forward in pace with preparations for the 16th Asian Games.

Governor Huang encouraged the province to make concerted efforts to stage an Asian Para Games as impressive as the Asian Games.

The Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games is the first edition of the Asian Para Games, replacing the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled, which has been held nine times.

Source: GAGOC

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