Paralympic venues across Beijing were filled almost to capacity on Sunday, as tens of thousands turned out to watch the first day of competition.

"The Olympics is about breaking boundaries - higher, faster and stronger - and it's just the same here," Shang Yuliang, a wheelchair-bound doctor from Henan province, said.

US fans cheer at the National Aquatics Center on September 7, 2008. [Xinhua]

He said he had accompanied his son to enroll at a Beijing university and decided to stay on to watch the shooting events.

"It's a chance for the whole world to see what people with disabilities can do," he said.

"They may not be able to perform at the level of the Olympians, but they deserve a thumbs up for their spirit."

Beside Shang were a dozen young men wearing headbands printed with the Chinese characters Jia You (Go!).

The standard of competition also impressed many of those watching.

"I honestly didn't count on the matches being of such a high quality," spectator Wang Yaodong said.

"It wouldn't be easy even for an able-bodied person to accomplish something like that. Just think how much work they have to put in to get to that level," he said after watching one marksman fire a round of perfect 10s.

The story was the same at the velodrome. Beijing man Chen Changli said: "The competition was so intense, I forgot they were disabled athletes.

"You see everyone really going for it and doing their best. We all felt really inspired and encouraged," he said.

Eight-year-old Londoner Gregor Sampson made it clear how he felt about the cycling.

"It was fantastic and the most exciting thing I've ever seen. It was so fast."

But it was not only the spectators who were surprised and delighted.

At the volleyball venue, the crowd was so enthusiastic even some of the players were overwhelmed.

Ruta Cvirkiene, coach of the Lithuanian women's team, said: "Our girls were shocked to see so many people because we have no fans at home.

"Several of them cried when they walked out on to the court because the spectators cheered and applauded so loudly for them."

The high level of support is good news for the Games' organizers BOCOG, which is keen to attract as many people as possible.

Wang Wei, a senior member of the organizing committee, said on Saturday that Paralympic tickets had been priced to be affordable, ranging from 30 to 80 yuan ($4.50 to $12) each.

Also, about 660,000 tickets were added to the initial quota of 1 million to meet the high demand, he said.

Xinhua