Uplifting opening

Safety is the primary concern for the flame-lighting ritual, director of the opening ceremony Shen Chen said, and the design of the snowflake cauldron made it possible and secure for a blind torchbearer to light the flame.

This year's Winter Paralympics opening ceremony followed the principles of simplicity, safety and spectacle, with a cast of less than 1,000, including performers with disabilities making up around one-third of the total.

The TV broadcast of the ceremony used lots of close-ups in order to highlight the actions of individuals and tell the stories of disabled people, Shen said, adding his team sought to draw the world's attention to the pride and spirit of people with disabilities, as well as reflect the humanistic sentiments of Chinese culture.

The Paralympic anthem was played by students with visual impairment from the Yangfan Wind Ensemble of Chongqing Special Education Center, and members of the China Disabled People's Performing Arts Troupe used sign language to accompany the Chinese national anthem.