Argentina invested around US$3.2 million during the last three years for the preparation of the 42 athletes who will compete at the Paralympic Games of Beijing From September 6 to 17, local press said on Friday.

According to a report from the Sports Ministry, published on Friday by local press, the Federations used 9,630,700 Argentine pesos (almost US$3.189 million) on scholarships, honorariums, uniforms, travels, accommodation, training and competitions.

"In addition to the monthly scholarship that sportsmen who traveled to China received and the payment of their coaches, the Ministry invested on plane tickets, trainings, training competitions, accommodation and uniforms for all the delegation, including the specific cloth for the competition," local press said.

Most part of the money was given to the Argentine Federation of Sports for Blind people (FADEC), which received 2,932,592 pesos (US$971,058).

The rest of the money was given to the Argentine Federation of Wheel Chair Sports (Fadesir) 2,903,010 pesos (US$961,262), the Argentine Federation of Brain Paralysis (Fadecap) 2,578,655 pesos (US$853,859) and the Argentine Association of Adapted Tennis (AATA) 498,394 pesos (US$165,031).

Also part of the budget was given to the Argentine Paralympic Committee (Copar) 464,195 pesos (US$153,706), Adapted Cycling 138,557 pesos (US$45,879) and Para equestrian Sports 115,292 pesos (US$38,176).

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2008)