Rio de Janeiro opened the Paralympic Games on Wednesday with samba, parading wheelchairs, giant balloons – and political protests – at the famed Maracana stadium.
The joyous rhythms of samba singers set the atmosphere in front of a packed stadium, followed by a giant projection of Brazil’s Paralympic swimmer Daniel Dias, and a carnivalesque reproduction of a Rio beach scene, reports NDTV.
But Brazil’s tensions also flared with thousands in the crowd chanting “Out with Temer!” as newly sworn in President Michel Temer appeared at the ceremony just days after taking over from bitter rival Dilma Rousseff, who was impeached.
Blind, missing limbs or partially paralyzed, the world’s toughest and most competitive disabled were parading ahead of 11 days of contests.
For Rio, the Paralympics, coming right after a vibrant but sometimes tricky Olympics, are one more challenge in a period of deep recession and political instability.
But all those worries were set aside for the sporting extravaganza.
“These are going to be the people’s Games. You can’t come to a more passionate people for sport,” International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven said.
Noting that 4,342 athletes from 159 countries plus members of the international refugee team were taking part, he said: “All I saw were happy athletes in the Village.”
Craven said the Paralympics, which will be broadcast in 154 countries, had the power to change the way people around the world think about the disabled.
“That’s where transformation happens,” he said.
Samakal
