“The Paralympic Games are officially open.
A solemn and usual sentence at each edition of the Paralympic Games, this time pronounced by Xi Jinping, the Chinese president.
An opening ceremony with a necessarily particular tone given the geopolitical context.
The Ukrainian delegation, whose country is still under attack from Russia, was led by Maksym Yarovyi.
She raised her fist and was applauded as she passed by Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee.
The latter, during his speech, said he was “horrified by what is happening in the world.
The 21st century is one of diplomacy and negotiation, not of war and conflict”.
He also explained the importance of the 564 athletes involved in this context: “They run together, with each other and not against each other.
The Brazilian president concluded his speech by shouting a call for peace.
It is recalled that the International Paralympic Committee, in these circumstances, excluded Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Games, after having initially authorized them to participate in the competition.
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France also marched behind its flag bearer, Benjamin Daviet, engaged in para biathlon and triple Paralympic champion.
The French athletes positioned themselves in a V as the sign of victory.
The nineteen athletes involved will try to bring back more than twenty medals, and thus improve their record from Pyeongchang.
This ceremony was also marked by a clip produced by the International Paralympic Committee, showing several disabled people in their daily lives, displaying a speech of hope.
Finally the flame was lit, in a Bird's Nest fuller than for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The stadium also received a standing ovation from the Chinese delegation when it entered.
And it is the same decorum in the form of a snowflake, which welcomed the flame.
It will remain lit until next Sunday, March 13 to thrill to the exploits of athletes from 46 different nations.
