1. Pre-ceremony Performance

Synopsis: Pre-ceremony performance

The site of pre-ceremony performance is the Small Stage to the north of the field. After Pre-ceremony performance, the hosts give interactive guidance to the audience for 40 minutes.

Pre-ceremony Performance:

1) Military Music Performance: Welcome Music

2) Folk Music Performance: Good News from Beijing Reaches the Border Villages

3) Drum Music Performance: Ebullient Festival

4) Male Solo: Come on!

5) Male-female Duet: Happy Gathering in Beijing

6) Lead and Chorus: Every one is No.1

7) Male-female Duet: Miracle in the East

8) Grand Chorus: The Blue Danube

9) Male-female Duet and Chorus: The Drinking Song

10) Grand Chorus: Ode to Joy

11) Chorus: Beijing, Beijing, I Love Beijing

2. Entrance of the President of China and the President of IPC

Synopsis: Entrance of Hu Jintao, the President of China, and Sir Philip Craven, the President of the IPC.

3. Short video of Countdown

Synopsis: In the sky, a small feather is dancing and drifting. It transcends space and time, going around the world, and participates in the main Paralympic sports one after another…

The countdown numbers of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 are displayed in the form of fireworks immediately after a short video.

* At present, there are 20 sports for the Summer Paralympic Games, namely, Athletics, Swimming, Shooting, Archery, Powerlifting, Table Tennis, Cycling, Wheelchair Fencing, Judo, Wheelchair Tennis, Volleyball Sitting, Sailing, Equestrian, Rowing, Goalball, Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia, Wheelchair Rugby, Football 5-A-Side (for blind people), and Football 7-A-Side (for people with cerebral palsy).

4. Welcoming Fireworks

Synopsis: Welcoming fireworks.

At the end of the last second of the countdown, welcoming fireworks burst above the National Stadium.

5. Raising the national flag of China and Singing the National Anthem of China

Synopsis: The national flag of China is raised and the national anthem of China is performed.

The flag operators of the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army raise the national flag of China, while the Military Band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs the National Anthem of China live.

After the national flag of China is raised, red and yellow fan-shaped fireworks burst above the National Stadium.

6. Welcoming Ceremony: My Track

Synopsis: Art performance My Track, the welcoming ceremony for the entrance of athletes.

Cartoon marathon athletes smile happily. They are busy paving a beautiful track of seven colors for athletes with a disability from all over the world.

7. Entrance of the Athletes

Synopsis: Entrance of the athletes of all delegations.

One-hundred-and-forty-eight guides lead the athletes of 148 countries in a predetermined order. When the guides reach their designated positions, they hand the feather placards to the persons in charge at the center of the field, who place them in the feather framework already prepared according to the order. In the end, a huge feather consisting of 148 feathers is formed.

Entrance of the Athletes

What is peculiar about the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games is that the athletes enter the stadium first and then watch the performances together with the audience. This is their festival.

The order of entrance

The order of entrance for all delegations is based on each NPC's name written in the Chinese characters of the Chinese mainland and the sequence of guide - flag - athletes - contact - guide accompanying the team. Athletes enter the field from Gate 1 and go along the west track of the National Stadium. After they pass Gate 2, the south track, Gate 3, the east track, Gate 4 and the north track, the guides lead them to their designated seating areas.

Gigantic Feather

The "Bird's Nest" is the home of life. Each feather is a living thing, symbolizing the ideal of all people with a disability in the world and carrying the hope and dream of people with a disability.

Paralympic delegations (Photo credit: Xinhua) 

 

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8. Chapter 1: Journey of Space -- Sunbird

Synopsis: The dialogue between a sunbird and a singer shows the mental journey of a singer with a visual impairment, who believes "there are dreams in life after all…"

1. The melodious sound of birds chirping resonates in the otherwise silent stadium. A sunbird flies from the top of the "Bird's Nest."

2. The sunbird flies down to the golden meadow in the field and awakens a blind singer from his sleep.

The sunbird chirps in front of him, and the singer translates the sunbird's message for the whole audience with sign language. Meanwhile, Chinese and English voice-over is aired - "there are dreams in life after all…"

Artistic performance of the Sunbird (Photo credit: Xinhua)

9. Chapter 1: Journey of Space -- Sky

Synopsis: In the "journey of space," a singer with a visual impairment tells of his wish to look for, discover and feel the truth of life from the mysterious vast ocean, land and sky…

1. Performers remove the surface of the center of the field and walk away. The Earth gradually comes into shape, forming a magnificent galaxy.

2. The sunbird and the blind singer walk onto the White Jade Plate together. Fireworks burst in the sky. Suddenly, a silver star falls beside the blind singer. He said, "My name is Yang Haitao. I am blind. My home is China. If I can see the light for three days, I want to see my father, my mother and you the most…"

3. The blind singer sings on the golden meadow. Underneath the blue sky and white clouds, huge wings fluttering in the air rise gradually under the care of 160 performers. Thousands of silver threads hanging from the wings gradually pull a "traveler" off the ground.

Artistic performance (Photo credit: Xinhua) 

Artistic performance (Photo credit: Xinhua) 

10. Chapter 1: Journey of Space -- Hello, Stars

Synopsis: Underneath the star-studded sky, a trumpeter quietly plays the music of Hello, Stars and 300 deaf girls communicate their inner feelings to the stars with sign language, manifesting the wonderful state of unity of man and nature.

Led by 50 sign language teachers, 300 deaf girls began a sign language dance. The deaf girls gradually expand outwards from the 20-meter platform of the White Jade Plate, the Center Stage in the field, until they are all over the White Jade Plate.

Hello Stars performance (Photo credit: Xinhua)

11. Chapter 2: Journey of Space -- Never-ending Dance

Synopsis: "She" used to be a ballet student and lost her left leg in the Sichuan earthquake, enduring tremendous inner suffering. However, "she" never gives up her pursuit of ballet and never gives up her pursuit of dreams.

All performers in the formation of circles perform ballet, their arms flowing as if they are rowing in the waves and their postures highlighting different ballet movements. As the music becomes louder, the force and extent of the movements increase gradually. The movements of the group dance rise and fall in turn, and the formation of circles tends to expand outwards.

Art performance (Photo credit: Xinhua) 

Earthquake survivor performs ballet. (Photo credit: Xinhua) 

12. Chapter 2: Journey of Space -- Four Seasons

Synopsis: Time is like a huge magic book, and the turning of its pages is like the change of seasons and the cycle of life. In the sound of the piano, the white snow of midwinter, the blooming peach flowers of early spring, the interlinked lotus leaves of midsummer, and the rippling wheat of golden autumn flash momentarily…

1. On the White Jade Plate, a blind pianist plays with both hands, revealing beautiful natural scenery. An old woman carrying a basket on the arm sits on a chair on one side, relishing it quietly…

The snowfield is pure and white;

A trail of footsteps stretches into the distance.

2. A forest of peach trees covers the white snowfield slowly. Beautiful peach flowers are in full bloom…

3. Green leavers and red lotuses in a pond cover the peach forest slowly.

4. The moon is reflected in the water.

5. Golden rippling wheat rolls over the green grass and yellow flowers.

Suddenly, pink peach flower, green lotus leaves, golden rippling wheat and silver snowfield show the gorgeousness of four seasons in different ways. The whole book is closed, and the huge White Jade Plate changes into azure blue sky and white clouds.

Artistic performance (Photo credit: Xinhua) 

Artistic performance (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Pianist Jin Yuanhui performs. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

13. Chapter 3: Journey of Life – Festival

Synopsis: 2,000 lovely children perform cartoon dance, vividly stage a gathering of life in the universe through the four images of frog, seagull, cow and duck, and experience the wonderful time together.

(2,000 "space robots" all over the track. As they change into the four forms of frog, seagull, cow and duck with the exciting and popular cartoon dance, all audience imitate the sounds of these animals: "Croak! Croak! Croak!" " Moo! Moo! Moo!"" Quack! Quack! Quack!")

'Space robots' perform. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Cow (Fu Niu lele)

"Fu Niu lele" is the mascot of Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. The design scheme absorbs the modeling and design styles unique to China's folk engraved prints, New Year drawings, and toys. This, plus features unique to the modeling of modern cartoons, shows an integration of traditional folk style and public interest with that of modern times.

"Fu Niu lele" is a face of friendship China dedicates to the Paralympic Games and the world. It is an interpretation of the meaningful Paralympic spirit, and embodiment of the spirit of athletes with disabilities who constantly strive to become stronger and make unremitting efforts, and a manifestation of the harmony between man and nature. It carries rich national style and cultural features.

14. Chapter 3: Journey of Life- Let Me Have You (Music: Let Me Have You)

Synopsis: In the starlit sky, a male singer and a female singer push baby carriage like a happy family along the track of life and sing about the wonderful universe, time and life together.

A female singer pushing a baby carriage and a male singer walk and sing on the White Jade Plate…

100 female dancers slowly flow to the White Jade Plate like a galaxy.

Behind the "traveler", thousands of luminous silver threads pull the whole Earth, as if he is carrying a traveling bag full of mountains, rivers and lands of the whole world.

Millions of glittering stars keep falling down from the sky.

The "traveler" jumps up and dances in the air facing the galaxy, which seems like a waterfall.

Deaf girls' performance (Photo credit: Xinhua)

15. Chapter 3: Journey of Life- Fly

Synopsis: With 750 pairs of nimble hands, 750 performers display a spectacular scene of a group of flying petrels and swans above the blue sea surface formed by the Small Stage.

750 performers imitate flying birds, forming a sea of birds.

'Fly with the dream' performance (Photo credit: Xinhua)

16. Address by the President of BOCOG and the President of IPC

Synopsis: Mr. Liu Qi, the President of BOCOG, accompanies Mr. Philip Craven, the President of IPC, to the podium to give an address.

Mr. Liu Qi, the President of BOCOG, gives an address. Mr. Philip Craven, the President of IPC, gives an address.

Liu Qi delivers a speech. (Photo credit: Xinhua) 

Philip Craven delivers a speech. (Photo credit: Xinhua)   

Synopsis: Hu Jintao, the President of PRC, declares the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games open.

Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

Up till now, 12 cities have hosted the Summer Paralympic Games:

Rome (1960 Games), Tokyo (1964ⅡGames), Tel Aviv (1968 Ⅲ Games), Heidelberg (1972 Ⅳ Games),Toronto (1976 ⅤGames), Arnhem (1980 Ⅵ Games), New York (1984 Ⅶ Games), Seoul (1988 Ⅷ Games),Barcelona (1992 Ⅸ Games), Atlanta (1996 Ⅹ Games), Sydney (2000 Ⅺ Games),and Athens (2004 Ⅻ Games)

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games are the XIII Paralympic Games.

18. Theme Song, Flying with the Dream

Synopsis: Art performance theme song, Flying with the Dream.

19. Entrance of the IPC Flag

Synopsis: Entrance of the IPC Flag

The IPC flag enters from Gate 3. Flag bearers walk along the east track of the National Stadium, passing Gate 4, the north track, Gate 1, the west track and Gate 2, and carry it to the flagpole area.

IPC Flag

The IPC Flag has a white background, with the IPC logo (three "curves" of red, blue and green) and the round motif of the English acronym of the International Paralympic Committee "IPC" on it.

The motif of the IPC flag consists of the three colors of red, blue and green, expressing IPC's concept of "Mind, Body, Spirit"

IPC logo

The IPC logo has been modified three times. The original logo contains a common Tai-Geuk motif of Korea. In 2003, IPC approved the new logo created by the internationally renowned agency "Scholz & Friends".

The new logo consists of three elements in red, blue and green – the three colors that are most widely represented in national flags around the world. The shape of the three elements (Agitos) symbolizes the new vision of the IPC: "To enable Paralympic Athletes to Achieve Sporting Excellence and to Inspire and Excite the World". The universality of the Paralympic Movement is shown through the round shape of the entire logo-symbolizing the globe.

The new logo is used at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games for the first time.

Entrance of the IPC flag (Photo credit: Xinhua)

20. Raising the IPC Flag and Playing the IPC anthem

Synopsis: Raising the IPC flag and playing the IPC anthem

Three flag guards raise the IPC flag slowly in the IPC anthem…

21. Representatives of athletes and judges take oath

Synopsis: representatives of athletes and judges take oath.

The representative of athletes takes oath.

The representative of judges takes oath.

Athletes' Oath

"In the name of all the competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Paralympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams"

Judges' Oath

"In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we shall officaiate in these Paralympic Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship. "

Hao Guohua takes the Paralympic oath. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

22. Entrance of the torch

Synopsis: Entrance of the torch.

Carrying the torch lit at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing in the hand, the first torchbearer enters the stadium from Gate 3, runs to the middle of the east track, and hands the torch to the second torchbearer; after receiving the torch, the second torchbearer runs to the middle of the north track, and hands the torch to the third torch bearer; after receiving the torch, the third torchbearer runs to the middle of the west track, and hands the torch to the fourth torchbearer; after receiving the torch, the fourth torchbearer runs to the middle of the south track, and hands the torch to the fifth torchbearer; after receiving the torch, the fifth torchbearer runs to the middle of the east track, and hands the torch to the sixth torchbearer; after receiving the torch, the sixth torchbearer runs to the center of the field…

Temple of Heaven

Built in 1420 and occupying an area of 2.73 million square meters, the Temple of Heaven is the largest existing temple in China for ancient Chinese heaven worship, visited by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for heaven worship and prayer for good harvest.

The temple of Heaven is a masterpiece of Chinese classical architectural art. Its artistic charm is everywhere. Blue is the primary color, symbolizing that all halls were built in "heaven".

In 1998, the Temple of Heaven was confirmed as a "world cultural heritage site" by UNESCO.

The lighting of the Paralympic flame at the Temple of Heaven implies "the unity of man and nature", the core concept the traditional Chinese culture, manifests the Chinese people's pursuit of "the harmony between man and nature", and is in line with the concept of "Sky, Earth and Human Beings" embodied in the emblem of the Beijing Paralympic Games.

Relaying the Paralympic flame (Photo credit: Xinhua) 

Ping Yali relays the Paralympic flame. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

23. Lighting the Cauldron

Synopsis: The stars are bight tonight! - This is a gathering of life in the universe! This is a carnival of life in the universe!

The sixth torchbearer stands at the center of the field, and lights the Paralympic flame at the cauldron.

The torch is lit. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

24. Celebration Fireworks

Synopsis: Celebration Fireworks

(End)  

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