KEY POINTS:
The skies above Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium will light up for tonight's opening ceremony of the 13th Paralympic Games.
The Chinese have shown they know how to host a party with their stunning opening and closing ceremonies to the Olympic Games, and New Zealand chef de mission Duane
Kale is expecting a similarly spectacular start to the Paralympics.
"I was talking to one of the officials a couple of weeks ago and while they're keeping it secret, he did say, 'You are in for a spectacular event'. He was involved in the Olympics event as well so I think we're in for something special," said Kale.
A total of 4000 athletes from 150 countries will be competing across 20 sports, with New Zealand sending a 30-strong team.
Though they have sent a rather modest-sized team, Kale said a tough selection criteria means they have high hopes for all their athletes competing.
"We've taken an approach where the people who have been selected have been chosen on medal-winning performances, so based on that you could essentially say that all our athletes here are prospects for medals," he said.
But based on history, New Zealand's top prospects look to be middle-distance runner Tim Prendergast and sprinter Matt Slade on the track, and shooter Michael Johnson, who all won gold medals in Athens four years ago.
Prendergast's pedigree has earned international recognition with the New Zealand team captain featuring alongside the likes of South Africa's "blade runner" Oscar Pitorius and swimmer Natalie du Toit, also of South Africa, in a list of 10 international Paralympians to watch, which was compiled by a Canadian website.
The 29-year-old, who is visually impaired, competes against athletes with full vision and was seventh in the 800m at the national championships last year.
As well as the old hands, Kale is expecting plenty from some of the young blood in the team, with Christchurch teenager Sophie Pascoe singled out as a top prospect in the pool.
At 15, Pascoe is New Zealand's youngest paralympian, but she has produced some impressive results this season and is regarded as a strong medal contender in her five swimming events.
"Leading up to this she has performed outstandingly at various meets and world champs, so she's certainly one to watch," said Kale.
The first Kiwi athletes in action are in boccia with Liam Sanders, Kerri Bonner, Jeremy Morriss, Maurice Toon, Henk Dijstra, Greig Jackson, Amanda Slade all scheduled to compete in tomorrow's round robin, while in the cycling the tandem of Jayne Parsons and Annaliisa Farrell will also be in action on day one.