PHOTOS: Athletes compete at Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing

Torchbearer and former Chinese Paralympian Li Duan lights the Paralympic flame during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Participants perform during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Fireworks burst above the National Stadium during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Athletes from Ukraine arrive at the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Andrew Kurka of the United States competes in the men's downhill, sitting, at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong

South Korea's Choi Kwang-hyuk, right, battles for the puck against Tyler McGregor of Canada during they para ice hockey preliminary match at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Thomas Charles Walsh of the United States competes in the men's super-G, standing, at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Pamela Wilson of the United States pushes a stone as teammates Steve Emt and Dave Samsa assist during their wheelchair curling match against Norway at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Anna-Lena Forster of Germany reacts after competing in the women's super combined, slalom, sitting event at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong

A jury records China's Liu Xiaobin shooting during the men's middle distance standing event at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama

China's Wang Haitao, center, Yan Zhuo, right, and Zhang Mingliang react during their wheelchair curling match against Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Czech Republic's Alex Ohar, center, battles for the puck against China's Tian Jintao during their para ice hockey match at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Italian players celebrate their victory over Slovakia during their para ice hockey match at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Zhang Wenjing of China leaves after the flower ceremony in the women's super G, sitting, at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Czech Republic's Jiri Raul prepares to get into his sledge during his para ice hockey preliminary round match against Italy at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Torchbearer and former Chinese Paralympian Li Duan lights the Paralympic flame during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Participants perform during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Fireworks burst above the National Stadium during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Athletes from Ukraine arrive at the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Andrew Kurka of the United States competes in the men's downhill, sitting, at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
South Korea's Choi Kwang-hyuk, right, battles for the puck against Tyler McGregor of Canada during they para ice hockey preliminary match at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Thomas Charles Walsh of the United States competes in the men's super-G, standing, at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Pamela Wilson of the United States pushes a stone as teammates Steve Emt and Dave Samsa assist during their wheelchair curling match against Norway at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Anna-Lena Forster of Germany reacts after competing in the women's super combined, slalom, sitting event at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
A jury records China's Liu Xiaobin shooting during the men's middle distance standing event at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama
China's Wang Haitao, center, Yan Zhuo, right, and Zhang Mingliang react during their wheelchair curling match against Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Czech Republic's Alex Ohar, center, battles for the puck against China's Tian Jintao during their para ice hockey match at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Italian players celebrate their victory over Slovakia during their para ice hockey match at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Zhang Wenjing of China leaves after the flower ceremony in the women's super G, sitting, at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Czech Republic's Jiri Raul prepares to get into his sledge during his para ice hockey preliminary round match against Italy at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Torchbearer and former Chinese Paralympian Li Duan lights the Paralympic flame during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Participants perform during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Fireworks burst above the National Stadium during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Athletes from Ukraine arrive at the opening ceremony at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Andrew Kurka of the United States competes in the men's downhill, sitting, at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
South Korea's Choi Kwang-hyuk, right, battles for the puck against Tyler McGregor of Canada during they para ice hockey preliminary match at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Thomas Charles Walsh of the United States competes in the men's super-G, standing, at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Pamela Wilson of the United States pushes a stone as teammates Steve Emt and Dave Samsa assist during their wheelchair curling match against Norway at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Anna-Lena Forster of Germany reacts after competing in the women's super combined, slalom, sitting event at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
A jury records China's Liu Xiaobin shooting during the men's middle distance standing event at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama
China's Wang Haitao, center, Yan Zhuo, right, and Zhang Mingliang react during their wheelchair curling match against Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Czech Republic's Alex Ohar, center, battles for the puck against China's Tian Jintao during their para ice hockey match at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Italian players celebrate their victory over Slovakia during their para ice hockey match at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
Zhang Wenjing of China leaves after the flower ceremony in the women's super G, sitting, at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Andy Wong
Czech Republic's Jiri Raul prepares to get into his sledge during his para ice hockey preliminary round match against Italy at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Beijing.
PHOTO: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
The Winter Paralympics in Beijing have reached the midway point with almost 600 athletes from 46 delegations competing.
Sunday's closing ceremony will end a long run of sports in the Chinese capital. The Winter Olympics began Feb. 4 and closed Feb. 20.
It will not be the end for many volunteers who will have to remain in isolation in hotel rooms for several weeks after the Paralympics close under China's strict COVID-19 rules.
The Paralympics are being held without athletes from Russia or Belarus, who were banned by the International Paralympic Committee for their countries’ involvement in the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine, which has one of the smaller delegations, has been near the top of the medal table since the Paralympics opened.
Ukrainian athletes have received wide-ranging support from around the world.
Many participants had sided with Ukraine before the Paralympics opened and said they would not compete against Russian or Belarusian athletes, a key element in the IPC's decision to exclude the two countries.