Vice Premier Hui Liangyu urged efforts to be made to further sports for the disabled in Kunming, Yunnan Province, on Saturday.

Addressing a conference concerning sports for the disabled, Hui stressed that China attach great importance to the livelihood of the disabled.

He urged the country to take the chance of the upcoming seventh Chinese National Games for the Disabled and Beijing Paralympics to boost sports events for the disabled, create an atmosphere of helping and caring about the disabled, and promote a sustainable and healthy development of improving livelihood for the disabled.

Sports not only improve physical conditions and give pleasure for the disabled, but also offer them a change to show their talents, which help them establish self-esteem, self-confidence and independence, Hui said.

It not only helps the society to understand, respect, help and care about the disabled, but also illustrates to the world the country's efforts and achievements made in helping the disabled, he said.

He put forward four requirements for localities and related authorities to enforce as following:

-- Develop and promote more sports for the disabled

-- Establish a better national team of the disabled sports

-- Improve conditions for disabled players

-- Create a warm atmosphere to develop sports for the disabled

Hui also urged localities and related authorities to realize the importance, specialties and difficulties of the upcoming sports events and make heart-devoted preparations.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2007)