This archive report was first published on 24 August 2021.
On August 24, 2021, the Tokyo Paralympics finally opened after a year-long pandemic delay, with a celebratory mood despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 virus.
Japan's Emperor Naruhito declared the Games open at the 68,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, surrounded by banks of vacant seats due to virus rules banning spectators from almost all events.
International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons hailed the athletes as 'beacons of hope' who had put 'blood, sweat and tears' into preparing for the event.
Parsons said, 'Many doubted this day would happen, many thought it impossible, but thanks to the efforts of many, the most transformative sports event on Earth is about to begin.'
The ceremony took 'We Have Wings' as its concept, creating a mini 'airport' on the stadium field, and featured musicians and dancers with disabilities in a wild crescendo.
Three Japanese para-athletes – wheelchair tennis player Yui Kamiji, boccia player Shunsuke Uchida, and powerlifter Karin Morisaki – combined to light the flame.
A reduced parade of roughly 3,400 Paralympians and team officials entered the stadium, wearing masks but waving and dancing after the disappointment of the postponement and worries about a potential cancellation.
A volunteer carried Afghanistan's flag into the stadium as a 'sign of solidarity' with athletes from the country, one of 21 nations unable to compete at the Games.
Paralympic athletes will be subject to the same rules as their Olympic counterparts – including daily testing and limits on their movement.
Despite the challenges, the mood seemed to shift once the Olympics got under way, with a majority saying they were glad it had gone ahead, but the virus situation in Japan has worsened dramatically in recent weeks.
On Tuesday afternoon, crowds gathered in parts of Tokyo to watch the Blue Impulse air display team fly over trailing smoke in the blue, red and green colours of the Paralympic symbol.
