Paralympics opens with ceremony
Friday, 17 September 2004 22:19Athens welcomed its second sporting showpiece of the summer tonight in grand fashion with a spectacular opening ceremony to mark the start of the Paralympics.
Just 19 days after the curtain came down on the homecoming of the Olympics last month the Greeks proved once again they are the kings of parties and pageantry with another stunning celebration to usher in the 12th Paralympic Games.
With memories of an unforgettable Olympic fortnight last month still lingering freshly in the minds of many in the Greek capital, and the added anticipation of another 11 days of sporting action to come, around 75,000 packed into a sold-out Olympic stadium.
The hosting of the Games, which begin tomorrow and continue until September 28, is a first for Greece, and marked yet another chapter of what has been an amazing year for the country following the national football team's Euro 2004 success and the hosting of the Olympics.
Among the dignitaries present were International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, honorary life president Juan Antonio Samaranch, ATHOC chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and president of the Hellenic republic Kostantinos Stefanopoulos. International Paralympic Committee president Phil Craven best summed up the spirit of the Games by referring to Greek philosophy in his speech to emphasise the brave struggle many Paralympic athletes must overcome to compete.
"More than 2000 years ago, the Greek philosopher Democritos said: 'to win oneself is the first and best of all victories'. This holds true for all athletes but especially for Paralympians" said Craven.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
