Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games open

Less than two weeks after the closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics, China's iconic National Stadium burst into the limelight again as the Paralympic Winter Games opened on Friday night with a ceremony highlighting accessibility and inclusion, reported Xinhua.

Chinese President Xi Jinping declared open the second Paralympics in the country after the 2008 Summer Games.

Under the theme of "Improve, Go Beyond, Together," which is inspired by an ancient Chinese saying "One should aim to improve oneself as long as the days go by," the opening ceremony featured performers from all walks of life as individuals with and without disabilities came together to welcome friends from all over the world.

The one-and-a-half-hour-long ceremony reached its climax when Li Duan, Paralympic long jump and triple jump champion at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, placed the Paralympic torch in the middle of a giant snowflake-shaped cauldron which later ascended to the top of the stadium.

Belgium led the parade of athletes of 46 National Paralympic Committees (NOCs), as hosts China marched into the stadium last behind Italy, the hosts of the 2026 Winter Games, with Guo Yujie and Wang Zhidong holding the Chinese national flag together.

Guo is a female para cross-country and para-biathlon skier born in north China's Hebei Province with upper limb disabilities, while Wang is a key player of the Chinese men's para ice hockey team and has participated in the World Para Ice Hockey Championships in 2018 and 2021.

Team China, who is participating in their sixth Winter Paralympics, has sent a delegation of 96 athletes to compete in 73 events of all six sports.

Belgium led the parade of athletes of 46 National Paralympic Committees (NOCs), as hosts China marched into the stadium last behind Italy, the hosts of the 2026 Winter Games, with Guo Yujie and Wang Zhidong holding the Chinese national flag together.

Guo is a female para cross-country and para-biathlon skier born in north China's Hebei Province with upper limb disabilities, while Wang is a key player of the Chinese men's para ice hockey team and has participated in the World Para Ice Hockey Championships in 2018 and 2021.

Team China, who is participating in their sixth Winter Paralympics, has sent a delegation of 96 athletes to compete in 73 events of all six sports.

As a wind ensemble band comprised of vision limited individuals, aging from 10 to 22, played the Paralympic Anthem, the Paralympic Flag was raised high in the stadium.

Eight para-athletes served as torch bearers in the final torch relay inside the National Stadium.

Fireworks in the shape of the Agitos, smiling faces and snowflakes lit up the sky of the dual Olympic city again, representing the purity, warmth and multicolored expressions of the Beijing Winter Paralympics.

A total of 564 athletes will compete for medals in 78 events until March 13.