BERMUDA's flag will be flying this weekend in Beijing when the 2008 Paralympics Opening Ceremony will be staged.

Bermuda will have dressage rider Sandy Mitchell competing but three other disabled athletes from Bermuda were also invited by the International Olympic Committee to watch the action with the hope that they will compete in the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Jessica Lewis, Paul Alves and Sia Castle left Bermuda yesterday accompanied by deputy Chef de Mission Ann Lindroth and caregiver Lori Lewis.

Ms Lindroth said before departing Bermuda: "We want to give them exposure and for them to see what they can aim for."

Mr. Alves is 28 years old and is currently a wheelchair tennis player. He also coaches both able bodied and physically challenged athletes, including fellow future Paralympian Jessica Lewis.

Mr. Alves has spina bifida and is paralysed from the waist down and travelling to Beijing to observe the Paralympics fulfils a lifelong dream of his.

Ms Lewis, the youngest of the group at 15, shows promise as an all-round athlete. She has diastematomyelia which is a congenital disorder in which a part of the spinal cord is split. She has participated in equestrian, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and track and is very keen to compete at the Paralympic level in wheelchair basketball and/or track.

The third future Paralympian Sia Castle is the oldest at 37 years old and Ms Lindroth said she wants to compete in boccia.

Ms Castle has arthrogryposis, a congenital disorder causing joint contractures. She is a keen team player and has participated in wheelchair tennis, basketball and is intrigued by the strategic skills that boccia requires.

Mr. Mitchell ¿ a veteran of the Paralympics ¿ will compete on Monday and is believed to be the oldest rider in the equestrian events at the Beijing Games. He first went to the Paralympics in 2000 in Sydney and four years ago he competed in Athens.

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