As the Tokyo Paralympics began with a colorful Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Andrew Parsons reminded competitors that they were "the finest of humanity."
The 16th Summer Paralympics will take place during a nationwide outbreak of COVID-19, but many inside the stadium were in high spirits as the tournament officially began.
The Paralympic Refugee Team led the countries out, with athletes Alia Issa and Abbas Karimi serving as flag bearers. According to the IPC, the group of six athletes "represents the more than 82 million people who have been forced to flee conflict, persecution, and human rights abuses around the world, 12 million of whom live with a disability." A volunteer carried out the Afghan flag shortly after the Refugee Team took the stage in a show of support for the country.
A magnificent light show, firework display, and dance performance greeted the competitors as they entered the stadium. Before the country's Emperor Naruhito formally declared the Games open, Parsons and Japan's Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto said a few words on stage. "Paralympians! You put your whole heart and soul into being here. There was blood, sweat, and tears. Now is your chance to demonstrate your ability, strength, and dedication to the rest of the world", Parsons added in his moving speech.
Some of the biggest names in sports have already expressed their support for the competitors in Tokyo. Marcus Rashford, a Manchester United striker, posted a series of messages on Twitter in the lead-up to the competition, pushing fans to watch the coverage and referring to the participants as "real-life superheroes." Alphonso Davies, a Bayern Munich midfielder, also wrote an open letter to the Paralympic Refugee Team, praising its six members. "Make no mistake about it," he wrote, "what you are going to undertake in Tokyo will transform people's lives."
Church, B. (2021, August 24). 'The best of humanity': Paralympic Games officially begin with vibrant Opening Ceremony. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/24/sport/paralympics-opening-ceremony-tokyo-spt-intl/index.html
Mendes, B. (2021, August 24) Yui Kamiji, Shunsuke Uchida and Karin Morisaki waving to the crowd after lighting the Tokyo Paralympic Games cauldron. [Photograph] ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-25/key-moments-tokyo-2020-paralympics-opening-ceremony/100404364
Pantling, A. (2021, August 24) Fireworks with colours representing the world exploding over the stadium. [Photograph] ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-25/key-moments-tokyo-2020-paralympics-opening-ceremony/100404364