A 55-minute pre-ceremony performance brought delightful air to the Chinese National Stadium before the Beijing Paralympic Games official opening ceremony kicked off on Saturday evening.

The performance was staged in the stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, where both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games were held.

A total of 277 disabled actors and actresses gave their wonderful performances to all the spectators, who waved their fluorescent sticks in hands.

The performance began with a vigorous military music "Welcome Music" at 6:15 pm, performed by a 60-people-band who all suffered from amputations and seated on wheelchairs.

The whole pre-ceremony performance included 11 programs, such as drum music "Ebullient Festival", male solo "Come On", Grand Chorus "The Blue Danube" and male-female duet and chorus "The Drinking Song".

Andy Lau, a famous Chinese singer and actor, co-hosted the ceremony with other Chinese star hosts including Yang Lan, Pu Chunxin, Wu Dawei, along with a sign-language host, Si Qin Gao Wa.

Lau also led the song "Every One is No. 1", with other blind and amputee artists who performed for the ceremony.

The lights in the stadium began to change into different colors as the last song for the performance "Beijing, Beijing, I Love Beijing" echoed from the stage.

More than 4,000 disabled athletes will compete for the Beijing Paralympic Games, scheduled from Sept. 6 to 17.

As host Yang said, in the Games, "let's not talk about disabilities, but capabilities."

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2008)