The Beijing Paralympic Games will sure be "stupendous," said Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) at the Games' opening ceremony on Saturday night.

"As we embrace these milestones in Paralympic history, our hearts go out to the millions of Chinese people who have been affected by successive national disasters in the first half of this year," said Craven in his opening ceremony speech.

Though the IPC chief did not elaborate, these disasters obviously included a devastating magnitude-8 earthquake that rocked China's Sichuan Province in May and killed more than 80,000 people, as well as a major blizzard that swept nearly half of the country in January-February.

"Despite these tragedies, China and the Beijing Organizing Committee and its President Liu Qi were able to continue preparations for marvellous Olympic Games and what we are sure will be stupendous Paralympic Games," Craven told the nearly 100,000 spectators in the full-packed National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing.

"I would like to thank you all for this great work and hope that our collaboration over the past seven years has been of a cordial, frank, constructive, temperate and deferential nature," he added. Craven also recognize the support of the International Olympic Committee, its president Jacques Rogge and His Excellency Juan Antonio Samaranch who is at the stadium.

These Games will have more athletes, more competing nations, and more sporting events than ever before, he said.

He said Paralympians have invested many years of their lives to be here, adding that will "ensure that you perform at your very best, and that you respect fair play. You never know, you may even exceed your wildest dreams."

Craven said the Paralympians are also here to have fun, make new friends, and create memories in the cities of Beijing, Qingdao and Hong Kong. This is not about hope, but about vision and what they represent.

"We want to experience your confidence and self-determination, ranging from elite performance on the field of play, to voicing your opinions in the IPC Athletes' Council elections," he said.

"I want to take a moment with you all to recognize this marvellous stadium. The Bird's Nest is a shining example of China's commitment to a modern world," he stressed in his speech.

"We all can see its monumental structure of steel, concrete, glass and other Hi-tech materials, but this architecturally beautiful stadium truly comes to life when inhabited and animated by people like you, the spectators, performers, and athletes here tonight. When combined with the Team and Games officials, the media and the sponsors, and China's incomparable volunteers, you all create this unique Paralympic experience," he said.

"Starting tomorrow, we will see drama, we will see winning, and we will see disappointment. But above all, when we come together, we will be part of the creation of an almost touchable and definitely breathable distinctive energy source, which is at the heart of the Paralympic Movement, and it is what we call the Paralympic spirit," he said.

"Once it gets hold, you can never let it go. It will last you a life time," he added.

"During the 12 days of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, you will realize that the differences that you might have thought existed in the world are in fact, far less apparent," said Craven.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2008)