Inas Mazhar sees whether in BeijingEgypt will continue its Paralympic successes A delegation comprising 37 male and female athletes is currently representing Egypt at the 13th Paralympic Games. They will compete in weightlifting, volleyball, athletics and table tennis. In Athens 2004, Egyptians won an overall 22 medals, and claimed 28 medals in Sydney 2000. Egypt's Paralympic success began in the 1988 Games in Seoul. Unlike the able- bodied athletes who have become used to returning empty handed from the Summer Olympics, Egypt's disabled athletes usually spare Egypt from more embarrassment. Nabil Salem, chairman of the Egyptian Handicapped Federation, said the athletes were ready to compete and win. "They have been training seriously for the past year including taking part in international championships where they claimed medals," Salem said. Beijing welcomed the world to the 2008 Paralympic Games on Saturday and once again it was another stunning and dazzling opening ceremony at the Bird's Nest. In front of a full house, performers gave heartwarming presentations, fully illustrating the Paralympic theme of "Transcendence, Equality and Integration." More than 400 actors with disabilities participated in the hour-long opening, titled "Flying with the Dream." The show, which focused on the harmony between man and nature, included three chapters, or "journeys," through space, time, and life, respectively. Referring to the concept of "sky, earth and human beings," the ceremony launching the "Journey of Space," began quietly, with a sunbird descending on a solitary man sleeping in the meadow below, an image formed on the floor of the National Stadium. Awakened by the presence of the sunbird, a typical symbol of Chinese culture, the man, who is visually impaired, begins to sing the tales of his heart. This peaceful expression was emphasised by a trumpet solo and hundreds of girls who used sign language to give shape to their emotions. Following that scene, to depict the Journey of Time, ballerinas took the stage, with one young girl sitting in a wheelchair directly under the spotlight. This brave 11-year-old had big dreams of becoming a ballet dancer before her life was shaken by the devastating earthquake that struck southwest China in May. She lost her left leg, but not her spirit, enduring much pain and suffering to continue to pursue her dancing dream. Next came vivid images of natural scenery, accompanied by beautiful melodies played by a pianist who is visually impaired. Fu Niu Lele, the 2008 Paralympic Games mascot, made an appearance, thanks to 2,000 youngsters who danced on stage to portray the "Journey of Life." The dancers also imitated the movements and sounds of frogs, seagulls and ducks. The artistry didn't end there, as performers continued to express the importance of harmonious living, with abstract representations of Earth. After Hu Jintao, the president of the People's Republic of China, declared the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games open, torchbearers emerged to relay the flame. To reach and ignite the final torch in the National Stadium, Chinese Paralympian Hou Bin, sitting in a wheelchair, showcased strength and grace by pulling himself up through the air with a rope. Perhaps more than anything else, the determined look on his face exemplifies the spirit of the Paralympic Games.
