The Games have begun. Here is the BBC’s report on the 2008 Paralympics opening ceremonies in Beijing:
Dazzling show opens Paralympics
The 2008 Paralympic Games has been officially opened by Chinese President Hu Jintao during a stunning ceremony at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing.
In the three-hour spectacular show, 6,000 performers and 4,000 disabled athletes from 148 countries took part in front of 91,000 ecstatic spectators.
Britain has a 206-strong team and was led into the arena by flag-bearer Danny Crates, 800m champion in Athens.
The action across 20 sports begins on Sunday and lasts until 17 September.
The opening spectacular featured a number of disabled actors and actresses, focusing on themes of space, time and life.
What was unusual about the ceremony is that the athletes entered the stadium first and then watched the performances together with the audience.
“We present two Games of equal splendour as a solemn commitment to the entire world,” said organiser Wang Wei.
The rest of the article is here.
For more Paralympics coverage from the BBC, go here.
