BEIJING (CHINA), Sept 7 (Bernama) -- A spectacular display of dazzling fireworks soared above the iconic Beijing National Stadium or the Bird's Nest Stadium, leaving 90,000 spectators spellbound to raise the curtain of the 13th Paralympic Games Saturday night.
The 11-day sports extravaganza was officially opened by Chinese President Ho Jintao.
Among those who witnessed the historic occasion were the Malaysian prime minister's wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob, National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong and Malaysian Paralympic Council president Datuk Zainal Abu Zarin.
The opening ceremony were also attended by 12 other world leaders and representatives.
They included Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, South Korea's Prime Minister Han Seung-so and Spain's Princess Infanta Elena.
The Malaysian contingent clad in the "Malayan Tiger" national jersey was led by the Jalur Gemilang flag-bearer, powerlifter P. Mariappan.
They were the sixth contingent from 148 participating nations entering The Bird's Nest Stadium. At the Paralympic Games, Malaysia is banking on 11 athletes who will compete in five sports -- archery, athletics, powerlifting, sailing and swimming.
During the opening, spectators were treated to a well-choreographed performance directed by award-winning director Zhang Yimou, the artistic maestro of the opening ceremony.
The Beijing Paralympics Opening Ceremony, named "Flying with the Dream," included about one hour of theatrical performances that centered on the concept of "sky, earth and human beings."
The magnificent performance was divided into chapters, entitled 'Journey of Space', 'Journey of Time' and 'Journey of Life'.
In the 'Journey of Space', a blind singer, Yang Haitao tells about the good wishes in the heart, and this was followed by more than 300 deaf girls performing a song in sign language about their inner feelings, manifesting the wonderful state of unity.
In the 'Journey of Time', spectators were amazed by Li Yue, an 11-year-old girl who lost her leg in the Sichuan erthquake four months ago, performing ballet.
'Journey of Life' portrays the universe through the four images of frog, seagull, cow and duck which displayed the Chinese nation's pursuit of "harmony between man and nature." It was performed by 2,000 children.
Hong Kong's top singer Andy Lau paired with local singer Han Hong to render the Paralympic Games theme song entitled, 'Flying with the Dream'.
Hou Bin, an amputee athlete and Paralympics gold medallist in athletics, lifted himself and his wheelchair up to the couldron with a rope before lighting it.
With the theme of 'Transcendence, Integration and Equality', the Paralympic Games reflects the yearning and quest of persons with disabilities to build a better world, together with other people.
Athletes will be competing in powerlifting, sitting volleyball, wheelchair rugby, shooting, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair tennis, goalball, boccia, equestrian, seven-a-side football, five-a-side football, judo, rowing, swimming, cycling, sailing, athletics, archery and table-tennis.
The host have received more than 4,000 Paralympic entry forms from the national paralympic committees of 148 countries and regions.
-- BERNAMA
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