Xi declares opening of Winter Paralympics

A Winter Paralympic Waltz was also staged at the opening ceremony. Half of the performers of the show were individuals with hearing impairment, while the other half were individuals without disabilities.

"The venues are magnificent. The organization is extraordinary. The COVID-19 prevention and control-safe and efficient," International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons said at the opening ceremony.

"The hospitable Chinese people have built the stage to fully showcase the best of Paralympic winter sports. Efforts to encourage and engage persons with disabilities to try winter sports have been outstanding. To the people of China: Xiexie (thank you)."

The atmosphere at the Bird's Nest reached its peak when the Winter Paralympic caldron was lit by visually impaired athlete Li Duan, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist.

As the final torchbearer of the Paralympics torch relay which started on Wednesday, Li ascended the platform, reached out to touch the snowflake sculpture, and placed the torch onto it.

Li used to be a professional basketball player in the national youth team, before a fire extinguisher explosion caused him to lose his vision at the age of 18. Two years later, he was rediscovered as an athlete in triple jump and long jump.

He said that lighting the flame resembled when he first started his training in jumping, as it required him to repeatedly practice to master the distance and precision.

Featuring six sports and 78 events, the Beijing Paralympics is being staged in three competition zones in downtown Beijing, the capital's northwest Yanqing district and co-host Zhangjiakou, Hebei province.

Team China will compete in 73 events, with a record total of 96 athletes, aiming to inspire over 85 million people with disabilities in the country to reach beyond their limits.