Royalty flocks to Beijing Paralympics

Beijing is calling again. Two weeks after the closing ceremony for the Olympics, the Chinese capital is again the focus of the athletic world. This time for the Paralympics, which open Saturday and are held in Beijing and Hong Kong.

And just as the Olympics received a lot of 'royal attention' its smaller 'brother' the Paralympics will bring a flood of royalty to Beijing.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, who is member of the honorary board of the International Paralympic Comittee, will be in town for the games. She follows in the footsteps of her parents and brother, who came to Beijing last month for the Olympics.

Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, younger sister of Queen Beatrix, has been closely associated with the paralympic sport since the games were held in the Dutch town of Arnhem in 1980. She joined the honorary board in 2005 and will be in Beijing for the event.

Britain's Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, is patron of the British Paralympic Association. He will travel to Beijing and Hong Kong to lend his support to the British athletes, just as his sister Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, did last month at the Olympics. The next Paralympic games will be held in London in 2012.

The Earl of Wessex will also attend The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Reception at the Raffles Beijing Hotel on Thursday September 11th.

Belgium is sending 23 athletes to Beijing and Hong Kong, where they will compete in athtetics, goalball, swimming, cycling, tabeltennis, tennis and the equestrian events. Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austriai-Este, are in China from 4 till 9 September to watch them.

Luxembourg sends Prince Félix to the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. The second son of Grand-Duke Henri and Grand-Duchess Maria Teresa, who both attended the Olympics with Félix' siblings Sébastien and Alexandra, will stay a couple of days to watch his countrymen compete. Maria Teresa is also a honorary member of the IPC.

Spain's royal family, which turned out in great numbers during the Olympics, is represented by Princess Elena. She, along with King Juan Carlos, was the only one of the Spanish royals to stay home during the Beijing Olympics.

Princess Haya, wife of the ruler of Dubai and daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan, should be in Hong Kong in her capacity as president of the international equestrian federation, FEI. Jordan is represented by prince Ra'ad bin Zeid and his wife, and by prince Feisal Al Hussein.

© GPD; Photos: various agencies.