The heavy rain on Sunday morning failed to dampen people's enthusiasm for the Paralympic Games, especially for those who wanted to witness the first gold medal of the games to be awarded at the Beijing Shooting Range.

20-year-old Beijinger Zhang Teng was one of them.

"Since the first gold medal of the Paralympic games will be handed out in this shooting hall, I hope China can nab its first gold here."

For Zhang Teng's grandpa, 70-year-old Zhang Guangtong, happiness already swelled out of him when he first entered the Paralympic venue.

Zhang Guangtong suffers from high paraplegia. He has been confined to bed for more than 20 years and rarely comes out. It was almost an impossible dream for him to visit an Olympic or Paralympic venue.

But now, thanks to barrier-free facilities inside the venues, he was able to sit in the very front row of the spectators section and watch his dream come true.

The 70 years old said he felt so happy to see the Paralympic Games being held in China, a demonstration of his home country's growing strength.

Although China failed to nab gold on the first day of the marksmanship event most of the Chinese spectators nevertheless enjoyed the competition.

Many said they not only cheered for the Chinese players, but also encouraged players from other countries.