The 2020 Summer Paralympics, delayed by COVID-19, started off with a dazzling ceremony on August 24, 2021, at the nearly-empty Olympic Stadium in Tokyo because of the COVID-19 related measures.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito declared the games open and delivered a message of togetherness.
International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons called the Paralympics the most transformative event.
A total of 4403 athletes from 162 delegations will compete in the Tokyo Olympics.
Also in attendance were Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and US Vice-President Kamala Harris’s husband Douglas Emhoff.
Stunning ceremony
Finely executed performances followed the dazzling fireworks. Three Agitos were brought together to form the Paralympics symbol.
The concept of the opening ceremony was ‘We have wings,’ and it was played out on the stage of a ‘Para Airport’ with several planes in it, while those with impairments played the aircraft.
But despite the impairments, they could all still fly with their unique way of flying, is what was shown. A girl with a wing attached to her wheelchair played the protagonist – ‘One Winged Plane.’
The Japanese flag was carried by former athletes and a healthcare worker to show gratitude towards all the medical professionals for their services during the pandemic.
The Paralympic Cauldron was powered by Hydrogen in a message towards sustainability. Even the Paralympic torches were made out of recycled aluminum.
The ‘Refugee Paralympic team,’ representing 82 million people, made the first entry in the parade. After that, teams were welcomed based on the Japanese Alphabet.
Team India
Indian team in this Paralympics is the biggest that the country has ever sent, with 40 men and 14 women. Prime Minister Modi clapped his hands and wished the team all the very best.
High Jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu and Discus Thrower Vinod Kumar stayed away from the opening ceremony because they had come into contact with someone who had the virus.
Both tested negative for the virus for the last six days, and will compete in their events, said Chef de Mission Gursharan Singh.
Thangavelu, a gold medalist at the Rio Paralympics in 2016, was to be the flag bearer. In his absence, Javelin Thrower Tek Chand took over for him and let the Indian contingent.
Day 1 of the sporting events will see preliminary rounds in Goalball, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, and Wheelchair Rugby, but Gold medals are up for grabs in Track Cycling, Swimming, and Wheelchair Fencing.
Badminton and Taekwondo are being played for the first time in the Paralympics.