The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the 13th Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao.
A National Olympic Committee (NOC) is a national constituent of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, NOCs are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games. They may nominate cities within their respective areas as candidates for future Olympic Games. NOCs also promote the development of athletes and training of coaches and officials at a national level within their geographies.
Macau residents participate in a wide variety of sports for recreation and competition. Football, basketball, volleyball, Dragon Boat, jogging, swimming, table tennis, and badminton are among the most popular in the community. Local leagues and competitions are organized regularly every year, but owing to Macau's small population professional leagues are financially unfeasible and so most participants are merely local sport enthusiasts.
Papua New Guinea sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. The country was represented by two athletes, Francis Kompaon and Joyleen Jeffrey, both competing in track and field. The country had requested wildcard entries, but the request was turned down by the Beijing Paralympic organisers.
Macau competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. Macau was represented by two athletes: Kuong Sio-leng in women's shot put and discus, and Ao Loi-si in men's 50m and 100m freestyle swimming. Macau did not win any medals.
The Faroe Islands first competed at the Summer Paralympic Games in 1984, and have competed in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then. They have never participated in the Winter Paralympic Games.
Vanuatu competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. The country was making its return to the Paralympic Games, having been absent from the 2004 edition. Vanuatu sent only a small delegation with powerlifter Tom Tete as the only athlete, and did not win any medals.
Macau's Paralympic Committee was founded in 1979, and the territory first competed at the Summer Paralympic Games in 1988. It has competed in every edition of the Summer Games since then, but has never participated in the Winter Paralympic Games.
Macau made its Paralympic début at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul. Macau was represented by seven athletes competing in two sports, its largest delegation to date, and did not win a medal. Macau's Chong In Cheng competed in both athletics and swimming.
Bermuda first competed at the Paralympic Games in 1996. It has participated in every Summer Paralympics since then. The country has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics and has never won a Paralympic medal. Only four people have represented Bermuda at the games, all of them equestrians. Kirsty Anderson competed three times, in 1996, 2000, and 2004, Sandy Mitchell competed twice, in 2004 and 2008, and Phyllis Harshaw and Alexander Mitchell each competed once, Harshaw in 1996 and Mitchell in 2000. Judith Hagen served as the team's head coach in 2004.
Liechtenstein made its Paralympic Games début at the 1984 Summer Paralympics in Stoke Mandeville and New York City, entering just one athlete in athletics. The country competed again at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Games, and at the 1992 and 1994 Winter Games. It was then absent from the Paralympics until the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, where it sent just one table tennis player, Peter Frommelt. Liechtenstein was absent from the 2006 and 2010 Winter Games and the 2008 Summer Games.
The Union of Serbia and Montenegro only competed at the Paralympic Games under that name at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. In 1992, its athletes competed as Independent Paralympic Participants. From 1996 to 2000, included, it was officially known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The International Paralympic Committee lists the country as "Yugoslavia" up to 2000, included, and considers that "Serbia and Montenegro" participated only in 2004. In 2006, the Union split into two sovereign countries, henceforth competing separately as Serbia and Montenegro.
Malta participated in the inaugural Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome, sending four competitors to take part in athletics, snooker and table tennis. Its first participation was also its most successful; each of its representatives won a medal: two silver and two bronze. The country then competed in almost every edition of the Summer Paralympics up to 1984, included - being absent only at the 1976 Games. Maltese competitors won two bronze medals in 1964, and one more in 1980. Malta subsequently ceased to take part in the Paralympics, until it made its return in 2008, with a single representative, after missing five consecutive Summer Games.
Ukraine made its Paralympic Games début at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, with thirty athletes competing in archery, track and field, powerlifting, swimming, and sitting volleyball. Vasyl Lishchynskyy won Ukraine's first Paralympic gold medal, in the shot put, and Ukrainians also won four silver medals and two bronze. Ukrainians had previously participated within the Soviet Union's delegation in 1988, and as part of the Unified Team in 1992. Ukraine, following its independence from the Soviet Union, missed out on the 1994 Winter Games, but made its Winter Paralympics début at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano. Ukraine has competed at every edition of the Summer and Winter Games since then and have done so with remarkable success.
One male athlete from Macau competed at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, United States.
Macau competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom from August 29 to September 9, 2012.
Macau competed at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain. 2 competitors from Macau won no medals and so did not place in the medal table.
Ivory Coast competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016.
Botswana sent a delegation to compete at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 to 18 September 2016. This was the country's second time competing at a Summer Paralympic Games after making its debut at the 2004 Summer Paralympics. Botswana was represented by one athlete, Keatlaretese Mabote, a short-distance sprinter. He competed in one event, the men's 400 metres T12 competition, where he was eliminated in the heat stages because he was third in his heat and only the fop two participants in a heat progressed to the semi-finals.
Macau sent a delegation to compete at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7–18 September 2016. This was the territory's eighth time competing at a Summer Paralympic Games since it debuted at the 1988 Summer Paralympics. The Macanese delegation to Rio consisted of one athlete, 18-year old swimmer Chen Yu Chia, who qualified for the Games by being granted a wild card place from the International Paralympic Committee in August 2016. His best finish was 17th in the men's 200 metre freestyle S14 tournament, and his other result was 19th in the men's 200 metre individual medley SM14.
