Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Hope you got a chance to see the Opening Ceremony for the Paralympics in Beijing at the Bird's Nest Stadium.......China pulled out all stops with a 3 hour extravaganza......no less spectacular than the Olympics itself.........two events with the same reception.  The Paralympics Ceremony did not focus just on China but on the athletes........with many of them playing parts in the ceremony............250 deaf dancers performing,  to the final lighting of the Torch in the Stadium by a wheelchair athlete who had to lift himself up into the air......on a cable of course..........to light the final torch.  I t was very well rehearsed.....the entering of the 148 countries took almost 2 hours........but different from the Olympics the athletes entered before the Ceremony began.  This way they would have an opportunity to actually see the entire Opening Ceremony rather than wait to come in and not get to see what came before them.  Again it is very good to see China make the committment to make changes to meet the needs of the handicapped.......for the first time in Beijing's History....there are now ramps for wheelchairs and buses that the handicap can use......even in the Olympic Village itself.....lifts and wider hallways added to allow for barrier free movement.......................hopefully these changes will be instituted thru out China to make it possible for the handicapped to move about and participate in society........even the Great Wall at Badaling is now handicap accessible!  These changes though not just important for China but many developing countries........many of them face the need to care for the handicapped.......it was pointed out during the Opening Ceremony that for some countries it was just mind boggling to go from a poor village to the spectacular venue like the Bird's Nest and also to receive such a warm welcome from the people of China.  Many poor countries the athletes were using obslolete wheelchairs.........and had difficulties in training and finding sponsors.  China has now raised the bar for future Paralympics giving it equal footing and importance as an international sporting event of the highest caliber.

Fireworks lighted up the sky above the Bird's Nest as the Paralympics opened today.

At the Opening Ceremony 148 Countries and regions, with close to 3,000 athletes and trainers....took part to start the Paralympics today.  Have a great competition!

Anytime you think you  have it tough...think of these athletes, who struggle to become athletes...who don't let anything stand in their way from becoming the best they can.......they compete for a medal....but in the end they compete for themselves...........for their own personal victory over life.........can we do any less?!