Glittering opening ceremony kicks off Paralympic Games in Rio where 4,300 differently abled athletes will compete across the next 11 days
Brazilian swimmer Clodoaldo Silva holds up the torch after lighting the Paralympic cauldron
Rio de Janeiro: The Paralympic Games opened last night with samba, parading wheelchairs, giant balloons — and loud booing of Brazil's president — at a sold-out Maracana Stadium.
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The extraordinary sight of US Paralympian Aaron Wheelz jumping in his wheelchair from a 55-foot ramp got the crowd on its feet. Then, the joyous rhythms of samba singers and a carnivalesque reproduction of a Rio beach scene got them dancing.
Spanish athletes are an excited bunch at the march past
But 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 rival Dilma Rousseff, who was impeached.
"You are superhumans," Brazil's Olympics boss Carlos Nuzman told 4,300 of the world's most competitive disabled athletes as they paraded.
The Japanese contingent is all smiles
Some are blind, some have missing limbs, or partially paralysed, some pushed their own wheelchairs, others were pushed, some limped. But all smiled.
Wheelchair athlete Aaron Wheelz stuns all with his 55-foot take-off
The British contingent with their Union Jack
Brazilian athletes indulge in some photographic moments
Fireworks are ignited during the opening ceremony
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