To date, the number of entries for the Athens 2004 Paralympic Summer Games has set a new record at 124 with the recent entry of Costa Rica. During the Sydney Games there were 123 National Paralympic Committee entries.
Of the entries already received, 19 are from countries that did not take part in the Sydney Games.
There will be four thousand competitors from about 130 countries, according to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Athens 2004 and the Greek Government have decided not to charge athletes with a disability an entrance fee, the first time this has happened in the history of the Games, enabling several of the poorer countries to send teams.
The deadline for entries is June 15.
Meanwhile the IPC executive committee will be meeting in Athens between April 3 to 6 to receive a report on the work in progress for the Paralympic Games. Athens 2004 is the first Olympic organizing committee to take on the organization of the Paralympic Games under an integrated administrative structure.
In a related matter Greek health ministry officials said Monday they will improve hospitals and other emergency facilities in Athens for next year’s Olympic Games.
Officials have designated 18 medical facilities as “Olympic hospitals” in addition to three in the northern port of Thessalonki and one each in smaller cities hosting sports events.
Emergency services will be free for Olympic officials, athletes, ticket holders and accredited media during the Games and volunteers and employees of the organizing committee will also receive free health care.
The government is buying 270 new ambulances and 25 mobile medical centres for the Olympics.
