STORY: Excitement grows among Spain's Paralympians on eve of Paris Games
SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage/File
DATELINE: Aug. 27, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:06
LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): ALVARO VALERA, Spanish Paralympic table tennis player
2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): MARTA ARCE, Spanish Paralympic judo competitor
3. SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): ANASTASIYA DYMYTRIV, Spanish Paralympic swimmer
4. SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): FIONA PINAR, Spanish Paralympic runner
5. SOUNDBITE 5 (Spanish): MARTA FRANCES, Spanish Paralympic triathlete
6. SOUNDBITE 6 (Spanish): MIGUEL ANGEL NAVARRO, Spanish Paralympic swimmer

STORYLINE:

With the 17th Summer Paralympic Games due to kick off in Paris on Wednesday, some of the 150 athletes representing Spain have expressed their excitement about the chance to test themselves.

The Spanish delegation, which is larger than ever with 259 members, including support, admin and training staff, is excited about the Games and about improving on the 36 medals won by Spain at Tokyo 2020, according to a statement from the Spanish Paralympic Committee.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): ALVARO VALERA, Spanish Paralympic table tennis player
"We are proof that the impossible often becomes possible. And so, for me, representing something so great, representing something so powerful, is a great pride and fills me with hope and joy."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): MARTA ARCE, Spanish Paralympic judo competitor
"To be honest, it was a little unexpected, but it makes me really excited. And the truth is that it adds a little more emotion, excitement and motivation to these Games as well."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): ANASTASIYA DYMYTRIV, Spanish Paralympic swimmer
"I am the youngest member of the Spanish Paralympic team participating in the Paris Games and I am very happy to be there and enjoy the experience."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): FIONA PINAR, Spanish Paralympic runner
"I'm very excited about what may come. It's true that I have only recently started training and so I'm very nervous about what might happen and about how everything will turn out."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Spanish): MARTA FRANCES, Spanish Paralympic triathlete
"I think our Spanish triathlon team is aiming for the highest possible level and I think we are going to bring a lot of joy at the Paris Games."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Spanish): MIGUEL ANGEL NAVARRO, Spanish Paralympic swimmer
"I'm excited and grateful to be able to represent people with major disabilities, to encourage them and to show them that they can also do sports."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Barcelona, Spain.
(XHTV)