Athletes honored

Five athletes joined the Paralympic Hall of Fame yesterday on the first day of competition at the Beijing Paralympic Games.

Andre Viger of Canada, Claudia Hengst of Germany, Connie Hansen of Denmark, and Kevin McIntosh and Peter Homann of Australia were selected by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for their athletic performance, history of fair play, and community service.

"These five inductees have excelled and demonstrated their elite athletic status on and off the playing field," said Philip Craven, president of the IPC. "They have become role models to future athletes and to the Paralympic Movement."