Athlete numbers jump 30% in National Paralympics and Special Olympics

Macau is currently hosting the badminton events of the 12th National Paralympic Games and 9th Special Olympics, part of a series of 46 major sporting events, with more than 11,000 participants, representing a 30% increase over the previous edition.

This includes 11 major events and 131 sub-events for the general public, 9 major events and 599 sub-events for the Special Olympics, and 26 major events and 1,146 sub-events for the Paralympics and Deaf Olympics. A total of 34 delegations with 7,824 athletes have registered to compete.

Secretary of the Social and Cultural Affairs Bureau, O Lam, stated in a press conference earlier this week that the government is coordinating inter-departmental collaboration, ensuring that the organization of the Games is on par with the National Games.

Last week, local officials launched the “Gaode Accessible Electronic Map Covering Macau,” which was created through a partnership between Alibaba’s digital mapping service, Gaode, and the government.

All venues and facilities have been upgraded with barrier-free electronic maps to provide accessibility information about routes, entrances, and facilities suitable for different disabilities.

Badminton events for both the Paralympic and Special Olympic competitions began yesterday at the Macao East Asian Games Sports Complex and the Macao Cultural Centre, with 28 sports delegations and over 500 individuals, including team leaders, coaches, athletes, and technical officials, participating in the events in Macau.

The Paralympic badminton events will include two categories: physical disabilities and hearing disabilities, encompassing 26 sub-events. The Special Olympics badminton events will be divided into eight age categories, covering 18 sub-events.

In terms of volunteer support, the Macau competition area has engaged 1,500 volunteers across various service roles, including event support, venue logistics, and guidance, to ensure comprehensive logistical support for the Games.

Official reception points have opened dedicated channels and shuttle buses to facilitate quick access for the participating delegations.

In addition, food, transportation, medical care, public health, and safety measures are all being addressed to ensure the smooth running of the events. Ricaela Diputado