What a spectacle were the Opening Ceremonies for the 2018 Paralympic Games! Highlights included Korean soldiers performing incredible Tae-kwon-do, Bandabi the mascot riding a large skateboard, vigorous drummers, K-pop singers and energetic dancing, tenor and soprano vocalists, light shows, fireworks, playful children's dance troup, lighted wheelchair dancers, passing the torch to illuminate the Games, and many dignitaries -- all of this to salute the World's best para-athletes!
The PyeongChang Games are the biggest Paralympic Winter Games on record with 567 athletes representing 48 countries, plus the Neutral Paralympic Athlete delegation.
Three countries celebrated first-time participation in Winter Paralympic Games, i.e., Georgia, Tajikistan and Democratic Republic of Korea.
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| Moon Jae-In, President of The Republic of Korea, and Andrew Parsons, President of the IPC greet athletes and spectators |
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| Traditional Korean dance originated as folk dances |
“Everything starts with a dream,” said IPC President Andrew Parsons.
“The journey of an athlete starts with a dream: the dream of competing in sport; of representing your country; of winning a medal and writing your name in to history” (www.paralympic.org).
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| Lovely and graceful Ga-in Flower dancers |
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| Past and present para-athletes from the Republic of Korea bring the Korean flag to center stage |
Our roles as Ceremonies -- Team D were to gather hours before the event to remove remaining snow and ice, and clean athletes' seating, insuring no fall hazards. Our Team took pride in our work as we prepared Level 2 seating area for paralympians from 10 Nations.
We distributed to each seat commemorative pouches with blankets, beanies, cushions, a program and chemical hand warmers, insuring all would be comfortable despite 0 degrees Celsius temperature.
During the Ceremony, we guided each team and athlete to the proper seat. We then responded to athletes' needs and insured that spectators and press did not enter a restricted area. This meant our position was center stage, ideal to watch the Ceremonies!
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| Parade of athletes proudly enter Pyeong Chang Olympic Stadium |
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| Korean children's dancers enthusiastically welcome All! |
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| The culmination of dreams brought to life for a young girl with visual impairment |
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| Celebrating in moving sculpture the sports of the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games |
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| Athletes proudly bring the International Paralympic flag to center stage to be raised with the anthem |
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| The Paralympic torch arrives in the stadium escorted by para-athletes |
From Paralympic.org, "The final torch relay symbolised the inclusive power of the Paralympics. South Korean biathlete Bogue Choi and North Korean cross-country skier Yu Chol Ma entered the stadium together as torch bearers.
The flame made it all the way to South Korean Para ice hockeyplayer Min Su Han, who, with his prosthetic, climbed a rope up to the Paralympic cauldron, and handed the torch off to compatriot and wheelchair curler Soonseok Seo. Along with able-bodied South Korean curler Eun-jung Kim, the two lit the cauldron." Athletes and spectators alike stood and applauded this incredible feat and the Opening of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games!
Watch recording of full Opening Ceremony for 2018 Paralympic Winter Games
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