When Pakistani athlete Naseen Ahmed, who uses a wheelchair, declared at the customs in the Guangzhou Baiyun international airport, he found that the counter had been lowered to 0.8 meters and he filled in the declaration form with ease.

This is just one example of Guangzhou's efforts to improve its accessibility for the disabled as the city is preparing for the Asian Para Games that is to be held this Sunday. The country's third largest city in Southern China has just hosted the Asian Games last month.

In the Asian Para Games Village where the athletes and officials live, the height of facilities in the telephone service zone has been designed for customers on wheelchair. The canteen for athletes lowered the counters and even the signs of clothes classification in dry cleaner shop have been adjusted for athletes to see easily on wheelchair.

According to officials of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games Organizing Committee, more than 4,000 accessible facilities with near 1,500 signs have been set up in the Asian Games Village. Besides, the constructions of more than 5,000-meter typhlosolis and 2,000m rampways have been finished.

Dong Feixia, Chinese throwing athlete said that although she moves on wheelchairs, she met no barriers by going to the shopping mall in the international zone from her dormitory.

"The facilities here made me feel comfortable," the athlete said.

Except from the facilities, workers and volunteers are trained to provide assistance for athletes that need help. Zhang Dailong, a local university student who provides volunteer services said they have received special training in details including how to express their willingness to help and how to push wheelchair to make disabled persons feel comfortable.

"We will try our best to take care of them and we hope through our service they can feel the warm welcome of Guangzhou and China," Zhang said.

Mukhtar Mohammed Al Rawahi, chairman of Oman Association for Disabled, said Guangzhou's service impressed him a lot.

"It is hard to think that this place is going to hold a large sports event. Everything goes smoothly. The facilities and services here are very good. The volunteer accompany me speaks very good English so I don't have to learn any Chinese," he said.

The Asian Para Games is going to be held from Dec. 12 to 19.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2010)