Let the games begin!

Fireworks light up the sky during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium yesterday. Pics/AFP

Japan's emperor declared the Tokyo Paralympics open in a nearly empty stadium on Tuesday, with athletes ready to defy stereotypes and shatter records despite a year-long pandemic delay.

Emperor Naruhito made the announcement surrounded by banks of vacant multicoloured seats at Tokyo's 68,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, with virus rules banning spectators from almost all Games events.

Artists sing and dance at the opening ceremony yesterday

"I declare open the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games," he said, wearing a white surgical mask. The pared-down ceremony took place in front of around 800 VIPs and officials, but there was a celebratory mood as 162 teams enjoyed their long-awaited moment in the global spotlight. The ceremony took We Have Wings as its concept, creating an airport on the stadium field and telling the story of a one-winged plane that takes to the skies.

Truncated parade

A reduced parade of roughly 3,400 Paralympians and team officials entered the stadium, wearing masks but waving and dancing after the disappointment of the postponement and worries about a potential cancellation. A volunteer carried Afghanistan's flag into the stadium as a sign of solidarity with athletes from the country, which is one of 21 nations unable to compete at the Games.

International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons said the event could be a platform for change. "Many doubted this day would happen, many thought it impossible, but thanks to the efforts of many, the most transformative sports event on Earth is about to begin," he said, as a steady drizzle fell in the stadium.
A record 4,403 competitors from 162 teams are in Japan for the Paralympics, with 12,000 staff, officials and journalists also taking part in the 13-day.

Also Read: Paralympics: Mariyappan replaced as India‘s flagbearer hours before ceremony

Strict COVID protocol

Paralympic athletes will be subject to the same rules as their Olympic counterparts - including daily testing, mandatory mask-wearing and limits on their movement.

4,403
Record number of competitors set to participate in the Tokyo Paralympic Games

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