The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the 13th Summer Paralympic Games, 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. It was first time the new Paralympic logo featured in the Summer Paralympics since its rebranding after the 2004 Summer Paralympics.
East Timor sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. However, official records give no indication that more than one East Timorese athlete eventually entered competition. Costa Silva was also listed as the country's flagbearer for both the opening and the closing ceremonies.
Vietnam competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. The country was represented by nine athletes, competing in powerlifting, athletics, swimming and judo. Two of the athletes, powerlifters Dinh Thi Nga and Le Van Cong, qualified for the Paralympics through their showings at international competitions, while the other seven team members were given wild card invitations. The head of the delegation was Vu The Phiet. The group left for Beijing following a departure ceremony on August 22 in Hanoi.
France sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. France sent 119 athletes, who competed in 13 sports: archery, athletics, cycling, equestrian, wheelchair fencing, powerlifting, judo, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair tennis. There were some competitors that competed in rowing which made its debut in the Games.
Three athletes represented the Philippines in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. The 2-person keelboat sailing team of Pedro Sollique and Cherry Pinpin were based in the seaport city of Qingdao while Adeline Dumapong was in Beijing for the powerlifting event. The Philippine Paralympic delegation was headed by PhilSPADA-NPC, with support from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Singapore sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, represented by six athletes competing in four sports: swimming, sailing, equestrian and athletics. The country's flagbearer at the Games' opening ceremony was supposed to be Desiree Lim, a sailor. However, as the sailing events were held in Qingdao, it was Theresa Goh (swimming) who was the flagbearer on that day. The 2008 Summer Paralympics marked the first time Singapore had won a Paralympic medal of any kind.
Zimbabwe competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. The country's delegation consisted of two track and field athletes, Elliot Mujaji and Molene Muza. Mujaji is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, having won the 100 metre T46 event in 2000 and 2004, while Muza competed in the Paralympic Games for the first time. In the days leading up to the games, the pair trained at the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo under coach Remigio Mumbire, however a lack of money threatened to cut the training camp short. The group planned to leave for Beijing on 28 August and arrive two days later.
Husam Azzam is a Palestinian track and field athlete. He was, according to the International Paralympic Committee, "the first Palestinian athlete to compete in Paralympic Games" when he represented Palestine at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. Azzam won a bronze medal in Sydney in the shot put, with a throw of 6.94 metres. It was the first Paralympic medal for Palestine.
Turkmenistan sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. The country was represented by three athletes, all competing in powerlifting.
Burundi sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. It was Burundi's first ever participation in the Paralympic Games. According to official records, the following three athletes competed in the games:
Georgia sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. The country was represented by a single athlete who competed in powerlifting.
Haiti sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China. It was Haiti's first participation in the Paralympic Games. The country was represented by a single athlete, Nephtalie Jean-Louis, who competed in powerlifting. Jean-Louis was her country's flagbearer at the Games' Opening Ceremony.
Kyrgyzstan sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. The only recorded athlete was powerlifter Roman Omurbekov.
Luxembourg sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. According to official records, the country's only athlete competed in cycling.
Bangladesh sent a delegation to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. According to official records, the country's only athlete competed in athletics.
Heidi Andreasen is a Faroese swimmer.
So Wa Wai is a retired athlete from Hong Kong who has competed in the Paralympic Games on five occasions, winning 12 medals. So Wa Wai is called the "Wonder Boy" by the people in Hong Kong.
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.
Papua New Guinea participated in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, from August 29 to September 9, 2012.
Greta Vardanyan is an Armenian powerlifter and Para-alpine skier. She has competed on four occasions for Armenia at the Paralympic Games, one Winter and three Summer. Vardanyan was the flag bearer on each occasion when she attended a Summer Games.
Soviet Union (1988)
Unified Team (1992)
