One-year　countdown　to　Paralympics　marked

 　Beijing　holds　a　grand　gala　to　mark　the　one-year　countdown　to　the　opening　of　the　2008　Paralympic　Games　September　6,　2007.　
　BEIJING,　Sept.　7　-　Beijing　organizers　unveiled　the　planned　routes　for　the　torch　relay　of　the　2008　Paralympic　Games　Thursday　to　mark　the　one-year　countdown　to　the　opening　of　the　Games.　
　The　torch　relay,　which　for　the　first　time　includes　an　international　itinerary,　will　start　its　journey　on　Aug.　28,　2008,　under　the　slogan　"Light　the　Passion,　Share　the　Dream"　in　Beijing,　and　travel　in　three　routes　simultaneously.　
　Future　Paralympic　Games　host　cities　(London,　Vancouver　and　Sochi)　have　been　invited　to　participate　in　the　relay.　The　three　flames　will　merge　in　Beijing　on　Sept.　6,　2008　before　heading　to　the　Paralympic　Games　Opening　Ceremony.　
　During　a　ceremony　held　Thursday　night　at　the　China　Millennium　Monument,　BOCOG　and　the　International　Paralympic　Committee　(IPC)　also　formally　conveyed　invitations　to　National　Paralympic　Committees　to　attend　next　years'　Games.　Representatives　from　more　than　90　National　Paralympic　Committees　are　currently　meeting　in　Beijing　for　the　Chef　de　Mission　Seminar.　
　"I　am　truly　honored　to　be　here　today　to　represent　Paralympic　athletes　and　fans　of　the　Paralympic　Movement　around　the　world　and　mark　the　beginning　of　this　great　countdown,"　said　IPC　President　Philip　Craven.　
　"From　this　point　on,　the　excitement　will　mount　every　single　day.　Activities　and　preparations　related　to　the　Paralympic　Games　are　in　full　swing　gearing　up　towards　a　successful　experience　in　September　2008,"　he　added.　
　The　celebrations　will　be　followed　by　the　first　Paralympic　specific　test　event　of　Goalball　next　week.　
　Meanwhile,　Chinese　officials　promised　to　make　the　city　"barrier-free"　by　next　September.　
　Beijing　is　upgrading　its　subway　system,　buses,　airports　and　train　stations　to　accommodate　the　needs　of　the　handicapped,　said　Tang　Xiaoquan,　president　of　the　Executive　Board　of　the　China　Disabled　Persons'　Federation　(CDPF).　
　"We　have　a　plan　to　ensure　that　people　with　disabilities　will　have　access　to　wherever　they　want　to　go,"　Tang　told　a　press　conference.　"We　have　already　made　remarkable　progress."　
　At　the　Beijing　2008　Paralympic　Games,　approximately　4,000　athletes　from　150　countries　and　regions　are　expected　to　compete　in20　sports,　with　rowing　making　its　debut　at　these　Paralympic　Games.