first day of 2012 paralympics begins
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

London Games kick off to full stadium

First day of 2012 Paralympics begins

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today First day of 2012 Paralympics begins

First day of 2012 Paralympics begins
London - Agencies

First day of 2012 Paralympics begins Eleven days of top-class sport for athletes with disabilities got under way on Thursday on the first full day of the London Paralympics, with 28 gold medals up for grabs, among them cycling and swimming. After the Games started with a spectacular opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in east London featuring British scientist Stephen Hawking, the action began at the Velodrome and the Aquatics Centre.
Five cycling medals were to be contested in the men's and women's individual pursuit, while there were 15 finals in the pool after a day of swimming heats.
Judo and powerlifting also had finals but shooting is set to provide the first gold, with Britain's Di Coates -- aiming for her fourth Paralympic gold in eight Games -- favourite in the women's 10m standing air rifle.
The day's programme also includes heats in archery, equestrian, goalball, table tennis, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball.
The Games began Wednesday with a vibrant opening ceremony led by Stephen Hawking that paid tribute to human endeavour, enlightenment and the quest to understand the universe.Paralympians soared through the air above the 80,000-seater Olympic Stadium while Hawking, the world's most famous living scientist, urged people to look to the stars for inspiration.
In a spectacular finish, a British marine who lost both his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan brought the flame into the stadium on a zip wire from the Orbit tower.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II declared the Games open after a joyous athletes' parade that saw competitors from a record 165 nations take their bow.
The show began with a spectacular flypast as a plane, lit electric blue and trailing golden sparks from its wings, circled overhead.
British theoretical physicist Hawking, paralysed and in a wheelchair much of his life due to a rare form of motor neuron disease, kicked off the show by speaking of the challenge of working out how the universe works.
"Ever since the dawn of civilisation, people have craved for an understanding of the underlying order of the world. Why it is as it is, and why it exists at all."
The umbrella was used as a motif throughout the show, in a light-hearted nod to Britain's gloomy weather.
A glowing, celestial sphere descended into the middle of a giant central umbrella, igniting the "Big Bang" signifying the creation of the universe. Some 600 performers with umbrellas that lit up radiated out from the centre.
The ceremony's artistic directors Bradley Hemmings and Jenny Sealey said their show was a tribute to human endeavour.
"We hope that you will join with us in celebrating the empowering possibilities of ideas, science and creativity, through which we can realise our full potential: who we are and who we aspire to be," they said.
Led by the three competitors from Afghanistan, the athletes' paraded to a soundtrack mixed by three local disc jockeys.
Each country's name was written atop an umbrella in the London Underground font.
Every nation was given a warm reception, something that was a feature of the Olympics just a few weeks ago.
Taking pictures and waving to the crowd, some on crutches, others in wheelchairs pushed by their team-mates, the athletes revelled in the moment.
The Mexicans, wearing sombreros and colourful woollen ponchos, shook their rattles, while Belgian sprinter Marieke Vervoort had her labrador Zenn upright on her lap.
The Ghanaian delegation danced their way round, while the North Koreans looked overjoyed as they waved their national flag.
Great Britain were welcomed in last with a deafening roar, David Bowie's "Heroes", and a blast of gold and silver ticker tape.
London Games chairman Sebastian Coe said: "It is my great honour to say welcome home to the Paralympic Games," as the event turned to its ceremonial conclusion.
"Everything sport stands for, we're going to see right here, right now.
"These will be Games to remember.
"Prepare to be inspired; prepare to be dazzled; prepare to be moved by the Paralympic Games of London 2012," he said.
Queen Elizabeth, who was joined by her grandson Prince William, his wife Catherine and other senior royals, then declared the Games open, heralding the start of 11 days of Paralympic sport.
"What can be more special than that there is no boundary?" asked Hawking.
"There should be no boundary to human endeavour."
In tribute to Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity, the spectators simultaneously crunched into apples.
After the flame's dramatic entrance, the cauldron was lit by 84-year-old Margaret Maughan, Britain's first gold medallist from the inaugural 1960 Paralympic Games in Rome.
Singer Beverley Knight closed the show with a rendition of "I Am What I Am" as fireworks exploded across the Olympic Park.

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

first day of 2012 paralympics begins first day of 2012 paralympics begins

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

first day of 2012 paralympics begins first day of 2012 paralympics begins

 



GMT 16:52 2017 Tuesday ,21 February

Iraqi troops push into Daesh-held southern

GMT 10:50 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

Technip lands Bahrain refinery mega contract

GMT 08:12 2017 Monday ,10 April

Minister receives School Mini Olympics winners

GMT 13:15 2017 Thursday ,31 August

Al-Basher Arrives in the Holy Land

GMT 18:19 2017 Tuesday ,17 October

Producers' group moves to expel Weinstein

GMT 13:00 2015 Sunday ,18 October

DEWA participates in 11th Women’s Forum in France

GMT 15:48 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

GOIC Encourages Paper Industry in GCC States

GMT 02:41 2016 Tuesday ,08 November

US, Turkey COS held talks on Syria, Iraq

GMT 23:18 2017 Wednesday ,22 November

HRH Premier lauds Bahrain's ability to host major events
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday