The 61-member delegation representing Cuba at next month's Beijing Paralympic Games arrived early on Friday morning via a chartered flight.

It was the second delegation to arrive in the host city, following last week's 78-member Ukrainian team.

The delegation landed at the Capital International Airport at about 6:45 a.m. on Friday, and took less than 10 minutes to clear customs. The host had opened a special passage and assigned police to help facilitate the procedure.

The delegation included three low-visioned or blind athletes and seven wheelchair athletes who will compete in track and field, swimming and table tennis among others. Some were here to defend their titles.

The ongoing Beijing Olympics is staging its final events before it winds up on Sunday. The Paralympics will start on September 6 and last to September 17.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2008)