A screen shows "Thank you, China" expressed by  the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Philip Craven (L) in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Paralympic Games, September 17, 2008. [Xinhua]

The high attendance rate was another source of satisfaction for Craven. The National Stadium, known as the "Bird's Nest", was packed to capacity for most events.

"When a Chinese athlete won the T11 5,000 m event earlier in the Games, 90,000 people in the stadium cheered," he said.

Zhang Zhen won the men's T11 5,000 m on Sept 9.

BOCOG, organizers of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, said both Games had attracted more than 1 million spectators to the various venues.