Rapid industrialisation and longer life spans have contributed to the rise in the number of disabled people on the mainland, officials said yesterday.
Sun Xiande, deputy general director of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, said the rise of the mainland's population to 1.3 billion was also behind the increase to 83 million disabled.
'Also, the criteria for surveys have changed, and this has led to a growth in this community,' Mr Sun said at a press conference on the Olympic Green.
Officials are using the Paralympics to promote a new era of awareness of the disabled via various policies.
'We all know that a single event [the Paralympics] cannot change attitudes of the people immediately. It's a lengthy process,' said Mr Sun.
'But since the opening up and reform of China, the attitude towards people with disabilities has changed and has improved. Economic growth and the raising of civil behaviour among the general public have also helped.'