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| Paralympics open with 'big bang' | Paralympics open with 'big bang' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Queen has declared the London 2012 Paralympics officially open, during a spectacular opening ceremony watched by some 80,000 spectators. | |
| The athletes paraded around the Olympic Stadium, with ParalympicsGB entering last to huge cheers. | |
| Games chief Lord Coe told the crowds: "Prepare to be inspired, prepare to be dazzled, prepare to be moved." | |
| Organisers say they still hope the Paralympic flame will arrived on time, despite a delay. | |
| Lord Coe said: "It is my great honour to say welcome home to the Paralympic Games." | |
| He said Britain was ready and the crowds in attendance would be "unprecedented", adding: "These will be a Games to remember." | |
| Eight members of the British under-22 wheelchair basketball team entered the stadium carrying the Paralympic flag, which was raised by members of the armed forces. | |
| The opening ceremony - which is being broadcast on Channel 4 and BBC Radio 5 live - signals the start of 11 days of competition by more than 4,000 athletes from 165 countries, including more than 300 athletes from ParalympicsGB. | The opening ceremony - which is being broadcast on Channel 4 and BBC Radio 5 live - signals the start of 11 days of competition by more than 4,000 athletes from 165 countries, including more than 300 athletes from ParalympicsGB. |
| The team entered the stadium to David Bowie's Heroes, led by Peter Norfolk, the two-time Paralympic wheelchair tennis champion, who carried the union jack. | |
| The start of the show, which was opened by Professor Stephen Hawking, featured a flypast by Aerobility, a British charity that trains disabled people to become pilots. | |
| A sphere ignited the "big bang" - something which Prof Hawking, a world-renowned physicist who has motor neurone disease, has written about extensively. Fireworks were then set-off around the Olympic stadium. | A sphere ignited the "big bang" - something which Prof Hawking, a world-renowned physicist who has motor neurone disease, has written about extensively. Fireworks were then set-off around the Olympic stadium. |
| Some 3,000 volunteers are taking part in the show, which organisers have entitled Enlightenment. | Some 3,000 volunteers are taking part in the show, which organisers have entitled Enlightenment. |
| 'Science and humanity' | 'Science and humanity' |
| Organisers have said the show is "profoundly about science and humanity". | Organisers have said the show is "profoundly about science and humanity". |
| Throughout the ceremony, Prof Hawking has been acting as a guide to Miranda - a character from William Shakespeare's play The Tempest who is central to the show - while actor Sir Ian McKellen plays Prospero, another character from the play. | Throughout the ceremony, Prof Hawking has been acting as a guide to Miranda - a character from William Shakespeare's play The Tempest who is central to the show - while actor Sir Ian McKellen plays Prospero, another character from the play. |
| And the Queen has been welcomed by Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee. | And the Queen has been welcomed by Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee. |
| It is the first time Her Majesty has officiated at the openings of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. | It is the first time Her Majesty has officiated at the openings of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. |
| The union jack was carried in by representatives of the armed forces. Many Paralympians are drawn from service personnel. | |
| Six London-based choirs - including the London Gay Men's Chorus and the Lewisham Choral Society - performed Principia, a specially composed piece by Greenwich-based composer Errollyn Wallen. | Six London-based choirs - including the London Gay Men's Chorus and the Lewisham Choral Society - performed Principia, a specially composed piece by Greenwich-based composer Errollyn Wallen. |
| Teams from all 165 countries have been parading into the stadium in a section of the show which called Spirit in Motion by the directors. The process in total was expected to last 1hr 15 mins. | Teams from all 165 countries have been parading into the stadium in a section of the show which called Spirit in Motion by the directors. The process in total was expected to last 1hr 15 mins. |
| Music used for the parading athletes has been mixed and played by three London-based DJs - DJ Walde, DJ Excalibah and Goldierocks. | Music used for the parading athletes has been mixed and played by three London-based DJs - DJ Walde, DJ Excalibah and Goldierocks. |
| A Locog spokeswoman said they were still hopeful the torch being used in the relay would make it to the Olympic Stadium in time to be lit during the ceremony. | A Locog spokeswoman said they were still hopeful the torch being used in the relay would make it to the Olympic Stadium in time to be lit during the ceremony. |
| A back-up flame was earlier created at City Hall, to make certain the ceremony could start as planned. | A back-up flame was earlier created at City Hall, to make certain the ceremony could start as planned. |
| The Paralympic torch began its journey in Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the Paralympic Games, on Tuesday night. | The Paralympic torch began its journey in Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the Paralympic Games, on Tuesday night. |
| It was carried by 580 torchbearers in total, and after being carried past some of London's most famous landmarks, is to be used to light a scaled-down version of the Olympic cauldron. | It was carried by 580 torchbearers in total, and after being carried past some of London's most famous landmarks, is to be used to light a scaled-down version of the Olympic cauldron. |
| UK Sport and the British Paralympic Association have set a minimum target of 103 medals this time from at least 12 sports, including swimming, athletics and rowing. | UK Sport and the British Paralympic Association have set a minimum target of 103 medals this time from at least 12 sports, including swimming, athletics and rowing. |
| Hopes are high that ParalympicsGB will emulate the success of TeamGB, but one of the UK's most decorated Paralympians has warned the competition for medals is likely to be tougher than ever. | Hopes are high that ParalympicsGB will emulate the success of TeamGB, but one of the UK's most decorated Paralympians has warned the competition for medals is likely to be tougher than ever. |
| Britain finished second in the medals table at the 2008 Games in Beijing, winning 42 golds, 29 silvers and 31 bronzes. China were top with 211 medals, of which 89 were gold. | Britain finished second in the medals table at the 2008 Games in Beijing, winning 42 golds, 29 silvers and 31 bronzes. China were top with 211 medals, of which 89 were gold. |
| Speaking before the ceremony, Prime Minister David Cameron said he believed the Games were "going to to make the whole country incredibly proud". | Speaking before the ceremony, Prime Minister David Cameron said he believed the Games were "going to to make the whole country incredibly proud". |
| He told Channel 4 News: "The Olympic Games made us proud but I think this will make us prouder still because you are going to see an extraordinary display of sport. | He told Channel 4 News: "The Olympic Games made us proud but I think this will make us prouder still because you are going to see an extraordinary display of sport. |
| "We can be very proud that more Paralympians are taking part in more sports, in more stadia, watched by more people than at any time in the past. | "We can be very proud that more Paralympians are taking part in more sports, in more stadia, watched by more people than at any time in the past. |
| "It's been a sell-out and that is, I think, a great story for our country and it will inspire a lot of people and change people's views about disability and that is absolutely crucial." | "It's been a sell-out and that is, I think, a great story for our country and it will inspire a lot of people and change people's views about disability and that is absolutely crucial." |
| Are you going to the opening ceremony? Or are you hosting, or going to, a Paralympic party? Are you a torch bearer? Please get in touch with us using the form below. | Are you going to the opening ceremony? Or are you hosting, or going to, a Paralympic party? Are you a torch bearer? Please get in touch with us using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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