BEIJING, Sept. 1 -- The Paralympic Village was opened formally on Saturday with the Chinese squad hoisting its flag and moving in. The Paralympic Village, transformed from the Olympic Village, will play host to more than 7,000 athletes and officials from 148 countries and regions.

Special accessories and facilities have been added to the village to meet the needs of physically challenged athletes, Deng Yaping, village spokeswoman, said.

"Tactile and accessible pavements, as well as other facilities have been added to the village," Deng said.

Security volunteers are taking training at the hall of China Handicapped Persons' Federation in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 31, 2008. The 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games will open on Sept. 6

"The dining tables have been lowered and the passageways enlarged to help provide better access to the athletes. And a wheelchair-traction service by golf carts has been introduced."

Some layouts in the village have been changed too. A part of the dining hall has been altered to keep wheelchairs and the Olympics Casual Diving Hall has been converted into a wheelchair and prosthetic repair center.

All the toilets have special seats, rolls of tissue and toilet paper and bigger trash bags.

About 30 wheelchair accessible coaches will carry the athletes around the venues, and more volunteers will be present to help the participants.

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