Seventeen teams and 191 athletes from across the country are competing at the sitting volleyball event of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games at the South China Agricultural University (SCAU) Gymnasium in Tianhe, starting Dec 9.

The schedule includes four days of group round-robin matches, followed by two days of knockout crossmatches, with the men's and women's championship finals set for Dec 14.

The event features several top teams that recently won medals at the 2024 National Sitting Volleyball Championship. The Shanghai women's team won four gold and three silver medals over seven sessions of the National Games for Persons with Disabilities, while the Zhejiang men's team secured double championships at the 10th and 11th National Games for Persons with Disabilities.

One of the matches on the first day of the sitting volleyball event. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

During matches, athletes use a seated position as their base, quickly moving their hands across the floor and relying on upper body and core strength to execute serves, passes, blocks, and spikes.

The sitting volleyball event attracts many spectators. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

The newly built SCAU Gymnasium can accommodate over 7,000 spectators. To meet event standards, the venue recently underwent systematic upgrades, adding 14 accessible ramps, seven accessible restrooms, four accessible shower rooms, and 48 accessible wheelchair seats.