An athlete competes in the Asian Para Games. [Photo/thepaper.cn]

Oct 22 marks the one-year countdown to the 4th Asian Para Games, which were postponed and will be held in Hangzhou from Oct 22 to 28, 2023.

The 19 competition venues for the event and the Asian Para Games Village have all been completed.

Moving forward, the organizing committee will continue to improve the operation of venues, meet the diversified needs of Games' participants in terms of catering, transportation, accommodation and logistics, strengthen the image of the Games, and create a welcoming and encouraging sporting atmosphere.

The organizing committee also plans to hold five test competitions from next May to July to examining the operation, accessibility, and logistical support of the venues.

The Hangzhou Asian Para Games consist of 564 games in 22 categories, five more than the previous edition, as canoeing, rowing, taekwondo, Go, and football are included this year. The athletes' disabilities are classified as either physical, visual or intellectual. About 3,800 athletes from 44 countries and regions will take part in the event.

The biggest difference between the Asian Para Games and Asian Games is that athletes attending the para edition are graded to ensure they have close or similar levels of disability and can compete in a relatively equitable manner.

Volunteers test the accessible facilities at the sporting venues for the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. [Photo/thepaper.cn]