"This is the warmest Games I have ever participated in. Non-obstacle facilities, through arrangements and enthusiastic volunteers make us feel at home here," said Xia Xiaobo at the pool side during her training, warming up for the 7th Chinese National Games for the Disabled, which is to be opened Saturday evening.

Blind sidewalks, blind bells, guide dogs, non-obstacle bus stops, special buses and washrooms for the disabled and 50,000 trained volunteers, all have been in gear to serve the 2,251 athletes from 35 delegations during the Games for the Disabled.

The 9-day Games, to be competed in both Kunming, capital of southwest Yunnan province, and neighbouring city of Yuxi, will be the last one of the kind for all the Chinese athletes to tune up for the Beijing Paralympics next year.

"The non-obstacle facilities are not the best, however, people here are full of love and the organizing committee has ensured everything to be convenient for the disabled," said Xia, a swimmer from west China's Shaanxi province.

Xiao, a girl with cerebral palsy who has competed in many a Games in Germany, South Africa and Athens, kept smiling and gratefully turned to Huang Xuehua during their chat, a sophomore from Kunming University of Science and Technology, who is one of the 5,000 volunteers.

During the 9-day Games, Huang and her four fellow volunteers will take care of the disabled swimmers from Shaanxi.

Huang helped them get clothes changed everyday before they dive down into the swimming pool.

"Surprisingly, the disabled have so much power when they get into the pool, like fish back to water, which makes us admire so much and serve them with love from the bottom of out hearts."

"The athletes have been training hard for the Games those past two days. Their great attitude and mighty soul inspired us in every minute," said Huang.

Apart from the volunteers, 2,700 taxi drivers have also offered free drives up till now for the athletes and those registered members of the Games in the city, said Bi Xiaozhong, an official with the organizing committee who is in charge of the volunteer work.

To ensure the disabled go around more conveniently, a total of 400 vehicles have been put into use, including 80 special buses for those in wheelchairs, 115 bus stops in Kunming alone have been specially rebuilt, blind sidewalks have been paved and slopes have been constructed at the bus stops for the blind and those in wheelchairs.

Furthermore, electric bells have been put up for the blind at the pedestrian crossings and safety islands in the middle of the crossings were specially designed to make way for wheelchairs.

Ding Erwei, a track athlete from east China's Shandong province who lost his arms years ago and used to pick up food by feet, said that "the restaurant staff have a through consideration for the disabled. They specially lower tables and chairs, provide dishes of chicken and fish with bones picked out first."

"I am able to have the lunch by my own, though there are so many kind volunteers and waiters serving by."

"Non-obstacle equipment has been set up in the 26 reception hotels for the disabled, and waiters have learned to communicate with them in hand language," Bi explained.

"During these days, we found the disabled are very courteous. They love each other, love volunteers, and never lose temper to the working staff here," Bi said.