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BEIJING : Beijing has been gearing up for the 2008 Olympic Games by spending billions of US dollars on infrastructural improvements.

And it hopes the Olympics' sister event - the Paralympics - will woo more of the global disabled population to the Chinese capital.

Channel NewsAsia checks out some special features installed for the handicapped.

Costing nearly US$30 million, the new Paralympics Training Centre in Beijing boasts a standard size pool with access for the wheel-chaired users.

The centre is also equipped with a sitting volleyball court, with facilities for wheelchair fencing.

It provides China's disabled athletes with all they need to achieve their dreams of gold at the Games held once every four years.

The country chalked up a whopping 141 medals at the last Paralympics in Athens, with 63 gold medals, and it is keen to take top spot again at the 2008 Games in the Chinese capital.

But the hype of the Paralympics goes beyond the scoreboard, with more than 20,000 athletes, fans and tourists expected to visit the city next year - half of them wheelchair-bound or requiring special facilities.

The handicapped population in China alone is estimated at some 83 million, and Beijing tour operators are keen to attract more disabled tourists.

Guo Jing, Vice President of China Travel Service Head Office, said: "Many people are still adopting a wait-and-see attitude. They are doubtful about the standard of our facilities for the disabled. I think this is a good opportunity for us. With the Olympics and Paralympics Games held here, we see great potential in the disabled and senior citizens markets."

Ms Guo said nine out of 10 Olympics partner hotels are now fully equipped with facilities for the handicapped like these.

The city itself has embarked on a drive to make it easier for wheelchair users and the physically handicapped to move around.

All Olympics venues, new buildings and major tourist sites have been fitted with amenities like ramps, and tactile pavements for the blind.

But the lack of suitable public transport for the handicapped remains a concern.

Lu Zhengming, Deputy Chairman (Executive Council) of Beijing Disabled Persons Federation, said: "We need to increase the number of barrier-free buses more quickly. There are now about a thousand of such buses out of 20,000 public buses in the city. If there are obstacles, the disabled won't have a smooth travel experience."

With the Paralympics serving as a catalyst for change, officials hope that disabled Chinese, as well as handicapped foreign visitors, will find Beijing a conducive place to be in. - CNA/de