The floor curling test competition (popular category) of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympics took place in Guangzhou from Aug 4 to 6.

Organized by the Guangzhou Executive Committee for the 15th National Games and Paralympic Games, the event included 48 athletes from four teams – Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Heyuan, and Qingyuan – who competed across three categories: wheelchair open, hearing impairment, and intellectual disability.

The floor curling test competition. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]

During the matches, athletes showed intense concentration as they carefully managed the weight and angle of their stones, while the venue echoed with the sounds of sliding stones and cheers. After a tough competition, Team Guangzhou earned gold in the wheelchair open category, and Team Qingyuan excelled by winning both the hearing impairment and intellectual disability divisions.

"The test event provided valuable opportunities for tactical refinement and venue adaptation," said the Qingyuan team coach. "We'll analyze our performance and aim for even better results in the main competition."

As a key stress test for upcoming major rigorous events, the competition thoroughly assessed venue logistics, equipment performance, and emergency procedures. For the main event, the venue will feature 15 lanes, each spaced 2 meters apart, to provide optimal access for wheelchair athletes.