Special report:   2008 Olympic Games

    By Sportswriter Shan Lei

    BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), on Wednesday spoke highly of Beijing's preparation for the 2008 Paralympic Games.

    "I and my colleagues were shocked by the great National Indoor Stadium (NIS) and the brilliant work of creating a barrier-free city in Beijing here," Sir Craven said on Wednesday when he attended the draw of the Paralympics' wheelchair basketball tournament, which is slated to open on September 6.

    "I believe China will have a better Paralympics four years after the Athens Games," he said.

    "China will win many, many gold medals at home. But I would say it will not be easy as other countries are also well prepared for the Games," Craven said.

    The draw of the wheelchair basketball competition was the first of any Paralympic events.

    "The draw is a symbol that the preparation of the Beijing Paralympics is entering a new era," said the Paralympics chief.

    "Beijing did great job in the past one year and was making a great relationship with IPC," he added.

    Sir Craven arrived in Beijing Tuesday afternoon and paid his first visit to the National Indoor Stadium hours later.

    "I drove my wheelchair through the warmup court, the seats and the competition court," he said. "The organizers paid great attention to the barrier-free facilities that make disabled people feel comfortable watching the games."

    "I also heard that not only the NIS and other sports complex, but all the visiting areas have been barrier-free designed for the Paralympics. It's not just good to the disabled. It's a symbol of a civilized society full of love and care," Sir Craven said.