Attention will now turn to the London 2012 Paralympic Games for those athletes who took part in the nine-day event at the Dragon Sport Centre Indoor Stadium.

"Sport is a way for the disabled to participate in common social lives like the others," said Feng Jianzhong, the deputy director of sport of China's General Administration.

"As the London Paralympics is around the corner, the National Para Games provided a platform for our athletes to show their strength and dignity."

More than 5,000 athletes were competing at the Games, which, for the first time, featured darts, chess and table tennis for the blind.

A series of performances took place at the Closing Ceremony, including a wheelchair dance routine and a bizarre extinguishing of the main cauldron's flame.

At the end of the ceremony, Wang Xinxian, President of China's Paralympic Committee handed the flag of the Games to Qumu Shiha, Vice-Governor of the Sichuan province, where the ninth Para Games will take place.

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