The massive Opening Ceremony impressed each television viewer in their own way, but mostly became a lasting memory for the 90,000 spectators. Inside the Bird’s Nest, the stadium came alive with a spectacle that raised the bar for Games success and the celebration that goes with it.

As the athletes walked in, representing their country with a leading flagbearer, fans and fellow countrymen cheered, enthusiastically supporting their entry. The audience, which had spectators from all around the world, was delighted and surprised as each part of the performance unfolded. The three-hour event focused on the “harmony between man and nature”.

This ever-large spectacle had a round of fireworks that lit up the opened area atop the Bird’s Nest, revealing a clear sky that was easily coloured, and setting a mood of heightened reality. An Opening Ceremony of such a magnitude could only bring about more curiosity to those new Paralympic spectators who were not sure what to expect during the period of the Games.

As this was one of the largest performances of the sort, a total of 420 actors with a disability were constantly intertwined into the ceremony. One memorable performance was the ballet ensemble that included 11-year-old Li Yue, who had studied ballet before losing her left leg after the earthquake in China’s Sichuan province. As she was a continued study in the art, she performed in her wheelchair, alongside other ballet dancers in a poetically choreographed dance routine.

Cheering from the audience reached its pinnacle as the President of China, Hu Jintao, officially opened the Games. This was closely met with the lighting of the Paralympic flame. Chinese Paralympic gold medallist and Paralympian Ambassador Hou Bin used his own strength to lift himself up in his wheelchair, with a rope that led him to the flame at the roof of the Bird’s Nest.

Athletes and spectators continued their undivided attention when listening to Sir Philip Craven’s speech. With his words, he congratulated all of the Chinese volunteers and performers on an exceptional job.