A glorious opening in Beijing

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:27:07 BST

bbc.co.uk Accessibility Links Skip to content Skip to bbc.co.uk navigation Skip to search Access keys help bbc.co.uk Navigation Search Home TV Radio Talk Where I Live A-Z Index Skip to main content Access keys help Help Contact us Paralympics 2008 Main A glorious opening in Beijing Elizabeth Hudson 6 Sep 08, 07:27 PM The organisers of the Beijing Paralympics had long promised a Games of equal splendour to the Olympics and Saturday's spectacular opening ceremony has set a high benchmark for the rest of the competition . Drawing on the themes of sky,earth and humans , the production featured dance , music , fireworks that shook the Bird's Nest Stadium , pink trees and the most amazing climax and torch lighting . imaginable Hou Bin has won high jump gold medals at the last three Paralympics but he needed all of his strength for his role at the climax of the torch relay , propelling himself and his wheelchair up 70 feet into the air to light the torch and signal the start of the Games . I was sat near my BBC colleague Tanni Grey-Thompson in the stadium and she said it was the most spectacular opening ceremony she had seen since Barcelona . The flame lighting was amazing and having the