The opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics, the largest sports gathering for the disabled, started at 8 pm Saturday in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.

Fireworks kick off the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games opening ceremony at the National Stadium, better known as the "Bird's Nest", in Beijing on September 6, 2008. [Xinhua]

Opening just two weeks after the Beijing Olympics ended, the largest-ever Paralympics are expected to be staged in a way that it will be remembered as an equal splendor as the Beijing Olympic Games.

At least 4,000 athletes from more than 140 countries and regions will participate in the September 6-17 Games, competing in 472 events of 20 sports. Athletes will use many of the same Olympic venues.

"This fully demonstrates the global care and support for sports for people with a disability," Chinese President Hu Jintao said at the welcoming luncheon of the Beijing Paralympic Games earlier Saturday.

Hu attended the opening gala with International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Philip Craven and other dignitaries.

Following a brief welcome ceremony performed by hundreds of kids in colorful costumes, the athletes paraded in amid exciting music and thundering cheers from the stands of the stadium with a seating capacity of 91,000.

Performers dance at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games opening ceremony at the National Stadium, better known as the "Bird's Nest", in Beijing on September 6, 2008. [Xinhua]

The parade sequence was decided by the number of strokes of the first character of the delegations' Chinese names, and Guinea, whose name begins with a two-stroke character, became the leader, followed by Turkey.

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