Let the Games begin: Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games lift off with celebration of diversity

Athletes from around the world filled the Olympic Stadium with hope, togetherness and diversity as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games was declared open; Little One-Winged Plane the star of the unique Opening Ceremony

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(2021 Getty Images)

Tokyo officially launched the 2020 Paralympic Games with an evocative and vibrant Opening Ceremony in the city’s Olympic Stadium.

Titled 'We Have Wings', the ceremony welcomed athletes from more than 160 countries to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo – making the Japanese city the first one to have hosted the sporting event twice.

Featuring fireworks, dancing, and singing, the emotional extravaganza saw its central character, a little one-winged plane that had given up on her dream of flying, go on a journey of discovery around the themes of spreading your wings and living life to the fullest.

Reflecting on the key themes of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, the Opening Ceremony celebrated togetherness and bringing out the best in one another.

"Paralympians! You gave your all to be here," said IPC President Andrew Parsons. "Blood, sweat and tears."

"Now is your moment to show the world your skill, your strength, your determination. 

"If the world has ever labelled you, now is your time to be relabelled: champion, hero, friend, colleague, role model, or just human. 

"You are the best of humanity and the only ones who can decide who and what you are.

"You are amazing. You choose to be the greatest in whatever the plan is.

"This is the power of sport, to transform lives and communities. Change starts with sport."

HASHIMOTO Seiko, the president of Tokyo 2020, offered her heartfelt gratitude to participating athletes for their "hard work, dedication and perseverance in the face of the pandemic's many challenges to gather here in Tokyo".

"Para athletes throughout the world share a true strength and determination born from confronting extraordinary and sometimes overwhelming circumstances," she said.

"For that you have my deepest respect."

"Para athletes testify to our infinite potential as human beings, and to our power to go beyond our limits.

"Please give us hope and the strength to stand tall as we witness all you have overcome to reach this stage."

With a light rain falling on the Olympic Stadium, Japan’s Emperor NARUHITO declared the Games officially open.

Flags raised in the Olympic Stadium

Japan’s national flag was carried into the stadium by three-time Paralympic ice sledge speed racing champion MATHESON Miki and athlete OZAKI Mineho, who won four consecutive gold medals. They were joined by badminton player IMAI Taiyou, sprinter YUGUCHI Erina, wrestler ICHO Kaori and rescue worker ASATANI Takumi.

As the flag was raised by members of the Self Defense Forces, 12-year-old, vision-impaired singer-songwriter SATO Hirari delivered an emotional and heart-rending performance of the national anthem Kimi Ga Yo.

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Forming of the Agitos symbol

When the leader in the control tower gives the command, thing come alive. Karakuri Performers began a circus-like performance as pumps, springs and levers moved together. 

As the Karakuri machinery moved, three colour winds transformed into the Three Agitos, symbol of the Paralympic Games.

The Crew members waved scarves as if to celebrate the completion of the symbol.

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PARAde of athletes

The number of athletes slated to take part in Tokyo 2020 Paralympics - 4403 - is a record. It includes a 1,853 women, and 254 athletes from the host nation Japan.

The Refugee Paralympic Team entered the stadium first to begin the cleverly titled PARAde of Athletes.

They were joined by the remaining National Olympic Committees, who entered the stadium to a selection of the type of lively music you would hear in an airport lounge.

Among them were athletes from five countries set to make their Paralympic debuts: Bhutan, Grenada, Maldives, Paraguay, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

For the first time in Paralympic Games’ history, as each delegation enters, the ribbon screen displayed the names of all the athletes from that delegation participating in these Games, including those unable to attend the Ceremony due to their competition schedules and Covid-19 pandemic.

Afghanistan was one such country. Even though its athletes withdrew from the Paralympic Games in Tokyo due to an escalating situation in Afghanistan, the country’s flag was paraded into the Olympic Stadium as a mark of solidarity and peace to the nation’s athletes and population. 

As the host nation, Japan was the last country to enter the Stadium to a warm welcome from the assembled athletes.

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And then fireworks explode into the Tokyo night sky in the colours of the flags of each delegation to celebrate the Paralympians who have gathered in Tokyo from all over the world.

With the national teams in the stadium, HASHIMOTO Seiko, the President of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Andrew PARSONS, the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) delivered their speeches.

A poignant and thought-provoking film for the WeThe15, a decade-long campaign to promote the cause of social inclusion, followed. 

And then the Games were declared officially open by His Majesty the Emperor.

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Sky's the limit

The story of the ‘Little One-Winged Plane” is one that we can all relate to. 

It centred on the idea that if we pluck up the courage, we can do anything.

The Little One-Winged Plane (LOWP) dreamt of flying through the sky but gave up on her dream because she only had one wing. 

The inspirational story featured performers with a variety of impairments, from vision and lower limb deficiency to dwarfism, cerebral palsy, and others, who have not let their impairments get in their way. This includes the lead, 13-year-old WAGO Yui, who has upper and lower limb dysfunction caused by a congenital disorder. 

Before her starring role at the Paralympics Opening Ceremony, Wago had never acted before.

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After meeting a group of planes which had their own unique ways of flying and a huge truck, the Little One-Winged Plane gradually had a change of heart, inspired by the natural resilience of her new companions.

Brimming with courage and confidence, LOWP hurtled down the runway at full speed while being clapped and cheering her on.

Before long, she soared into the night sky for all to see.

The moral of the story - about listening to advice and how working together can help overcome anything – is one for us all to heed.

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Paralympic flag

The Paralympic flag brought into the stadium by canoeist SERYU Monika and swimmer TOMITA Uchu of Japan, German athlete Johannes Floors and Rwandan sitting volleyball player Liliane Mukobwankawe. They were accompanied by equestrian rider Laurentia Tand form Singapore and powerlifter Fabio Torres of Colombia.

The flag was handed to a group of eight essential workers, who supported us in our day-to-day lives during what have been unprecedented times.

The oaths, which have been updated in line with the IPC’s commitment to inclusion and non-discrimination, were taken for the first time by a male and a female athlete, a male judge, and a female coach.

They were multi-medal-winning wheelchair tennis player KUNIEDA Shingo, Goalball player URATA Rie, wheelchair fencer and referee AZUMA Nobuyuki, and swimming coach TANIGUCHI Yumiko.

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Lighting of the cauldron

After a captivating performance by the Sun dancer, played by actor and dancer Kazuyo MORITA, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Flame arrived at the stadium.

To the sounds of “The World Changes” by NAKAMURA Kazuyoshi, torchbearers passed the Paralympic Flame, gathered from Stoke Mandeville in England and from across Tokyo, between each other as the flame made its way to the Cauldron.

Five-time Paralympic alpine skier OBINATA Kuniko, table tennis player TAKEUCHI Masahiko, who was champion at the Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games and 15-time Paralympic champion swimmer NARITA Mayumi began the procession, before passing the flames on to Doctor NAKAMURA Taro, nurse TAMURA Tamami and prosthetist and orthotist USUI Fumio. 

Wheelchair tennis player KAMIJI Yui, Boccia player UCHIDA Shunsuke and Para powerlifting champion MORISAKI Karin were the third set of torch bearers.

The Tokyo 2020 cauldron was lit and the 16th iteration of the Games of the Summer Paralympics were under way, with 12 days of competition set to take place under the most exceptional of circumstances.

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