Netherlands at the 1984 Winter Paralympics

Transcription

[helicopter blades chopping the air] (first commentator) ... possibility is there, but of course all the crowds expected right now are inside the stadium, waiting for the countdown. Most of the crowds in the nine days of competition. There will be several here of course, because they've got two major activities; the curling, and of course the sledge hockey as well. But most of the crowds will be shifting their attention from the coastal cluster to Rosa Khutor and the mountain cluster where the medal ceremonies plaza is now based. It's moved away from the coastal cluster and up to the mountains near Rosa Khutor. It's a most magnificent setting there. All new buildings but they're so beautifully constructed and they've build a lot of the heritage blocks up there in the valley. It's just a wonderful place right by the river, and fantastic. A beautiful new resort above Krasnaya Polyana. Getting a lot of attention over the next nine days, that's for sure. (second commentator) What you can't perhaps make out is the slight rain, not quite a drizzle, just a little bit of moisture. Mother nature and old man winter have combined to give us glorious weather here, and certainly inside Fisht stadium a lucky 40,000 or so will be well-protected. And while tonight's festivities will celebrate the rich cultural history, bold Russian heritage, and the winter Paralympians who have battled bravely and trained tirelessly to reach this pinnacle of their respective disciplines. Make no mistake, this is also a gold, silver, and bronze opportunity to blaze a new trail of triumph and creativity into the future of the Krasnodar, the third-largest region of Russia. Maybe tonight's memorable peek into this region's rich past will inspire Sochi's next superstar. This area's most famous citizens include the 2010 winner of the Nobel Prize for physics, Andre Geim, and tennis superstar Maria Sharapova. (first commentator) The Fisht stadium, we're inside now and there's not much time before the opening itself, and certainly the crowd are getting very, very excited. It's going to be used for major sports events in the future, but right now it's equipped with some of the most spectacular machinery and systems providing the biggest and most dramatic theatrical opportunities ever created. I tell you, in the language of circus it is often said that you can attend the greatest show on earth when you go to a circus. I can tell you now, believe me, this is definitely going to be the greatest show on earth. You can see the clock there; 5:43, 42, it's the countdown and the crowd inside the Fisht stadium are very, very aware that they're going to see something very, very special over the next couple of hours. They've heard about it, they know about it. The hoists and the bridges and lighting systems, sound systems, the projection technology will definitely impress everyone who's here and at home. (second commentator) The 40,000 lucky enough to see this live inside Fisht stadium along with the nearly two billion estimated to see the Paralympics contested over the next ten days, as this will be a distinctly Russian salute to the human condition and the human spirit. The performers are very much of the people, the talented Pan-Russian Choir is here; 376 singers from all over Russia will stir the world-wide audience. 150 of this evening's performers have an impairment. Right at the top, pop star Julia Samoilova. Operatic diva Maria Guleghina is among the world's great sopranos. An honorary International Paralympic Committee board member, she will perform Lermontov's poetic classic Cossack Lullaby. Then you'll see 126 performers miraculously present [inaudible] (first commentator) There are a couple of mascots, the Paralympic mascots. The ray of light and snowflake they're called, and they'll provide the huge inspiration for light things, from very bright sunlight to the chilling cool blues, greys, and whites of ice and snow. That will be prevailing around here from significant early times. Right away through the themes will be multi-coloured. The coloured tubes, like organ pipes that are hanging from the ceiling of the stadium. They'll provide an extraordinary visual kaleidoscope of effects as they're raised and lowered throughout the ceremony. It's going to be something very, very special. Just over three and a half minutes left to go before the countdown to the opening ceremonies. (second commentator) This is about culture and history, sure, but it's really about these über-talented athletes performing, from a 14-year-old Australian snowboarder nicknamed Tudders to a 63-years-young wheelchair curler. All the athletes will be front and centre over the next ten days and choice seating right off stage tonight puts them all front and centre here for this celebration. Three countries making their Paralympic Winter Games debut, we'll tell you about that as the flags are presented. The immensely popular ice sledge hockey event well-represented tonight, more than 25% of all Paralympians are represented by the players in the sledge hockey tournament. Among the great individual battles we'll be following at these Paralympics, the USA's Amy Purdy and Bibian Mentel of the Netherlands in adapted snowboarding. (first commentator) Just take in this amazing vista and of course the atmosphere building, the crowd, whether they're at ground level or high up in the panoramic seats. Many of them probably won't even realize at the moment they're going to be treated to a centre-stage extravaganza of projection making the whole stage become a totally different place. The whole ceremony is going to look different. Centre stage is at times an iceberg, it can be a magical forest or a Rubik's Cube of shapes, colour, and lots of excitement. (second commentator) You can see the countdown and we're getting closer. Among the dignitaries taking great pride in making this historic and glorious Paralympics happen here in Sochi, they are here and soon to be heard from. Russian Federation president Vladimir Putin and International Paralympic Committee president Sir Phillip Craven. (first commentator) A little over one minute, you can see on the screens there, before the opening ceremony begins and a little bit of Mexico comes here to Sochi as you can see the wave, the ever-present wave gets underway. It's certainly an extraordinary experience. See all the machinery and now... (second commentator) Welcome to the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games opening ceremony. For the next two hours you will be drawn in, entertained, wowed, and amazed, for sure. Fisht stadium in the coastal cluster on the Black Sea, clearly the centrepiece of the sporting world tonight. (first commentator) The Fisht stadium is bursting with excitement and anticipation for another wonderful evening of creativity and celebration. The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games begin in a few seconds. The firebird, a magical, glowing bird from a far-away land is a symbol of love and happiness. Let's follow its journey to Earth. [inspirational music] [children laughing] [children singing in unison] As the countdown is complete we get pyrotechnics... [event announcer] Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to opening ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games! [orchestral music] Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the president of the International Paralympic Committee, Sir Philip Craven. (second commentator) The sprit of sport and the spirit of protocol coming together, right after the firebird. And now among the most visual of tonight's 126 performers right here. It's a marvellous, Russian colours, marching in marvellous synchronicity. [compelling music] [crowd cheering] (second commentator) This is what I was referring to when you were discussing the opening. Just an absolutely amazing stunt of timing, synchronicity, action. The Russian flag, wavering and all of them smiling. Everyone in the audience smiling. And back to the march. [music continues] [music stops, crowd cheering] (event announcer) Ladies and gentlemen, the national flag of the Russian Federation. [music begins] (second commentator) With the choir waiting patiently to perform... (event announcer) The flag is carried by Vladimir Spivakov, violinist and conductor. Also Rima Batalova, 13-time Paralympic champion in track and field. Alexei Nemov, four-time Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics. Verlay Koupchinsky, nine-time Paralympic champion in cross-country skiing and biathlon. Vladimir Kisilev, two-time Paralympic champion in biathlon. Dina Korzun, theatre and film actress. Pyotr Belov, first coach of the Russian Paralympic Games track and field team. Liubov Vasilyeva, four-time Paralympic champion in cross-country skiing and biathlon. (second commentator) He was the winner of two silver and two bronze Paralympic medals in cross-country skiing and biathlon, a visually-impaired person. [orchestral music] (event announcer) Ladies and gentlemen, as is customary and for those who can, please stand for the national anthem of the Russian Federation. [Russian Federation national anthem chorus] (first commentator) Well if you have seen or heard a better rendition of a national anthem I think you might be just fibbing a little because that was absolutely stunning. We change the mood immediately with the glass organ, comprising 36 crystal glasses played by Andree-Anne Gingras-Roy. She a multi-instrumentalist who's played with orchestras and in festivals all around the world. Sugar-plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Snowflakes we're going to hear. Those by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa's ballet the Nutcracker which premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1892. You hear the opening chord of the Waltz of the Snowflakes and now have 504 young ballerinas gracefully moving centre-stage as they dance, create patterns of snowflakes, and finally the feather-like shape of the Paralympic torch. Andree-Anne Gingras-Roy now makes way for a choir of 35 young singers from the Mir Iskusstva Foundation. Russian musician Vladislav Teterin made the charity. You can see a gathering on the protocol stage, right underneath the Russian flag, underneath a snowstorm of the ballet dancers. (second commentator) And from above, 11 performers inside the spheres. Now 12 firebird aerialists and ten cloud acrobats join the show. Everybody wants to get in on this fun. Absolutely spectacular [inaudible] Cirque du Soleil for the young and old. The eight large transparent spheres each measure five metres. Ten balloons each measuring nine metres wide. The choir of 35 young people with impairments are on the protocol stage performing now. Feathers of the firebirds are forming the large circle around the snowflake. (first commentator) So the Paralympic torch is created. And still the firebirds move over the scene. Now the entry. (second commentator) In Slavic folklore it's a magical glowing bird from a far-away land, a symbol of wealth and happiness. (first commentator) More gymnastic ability being inside these extraordinary transparent spheres. Five metres they are. Ten balloons, nine metres wide. There is the prettiest snowball you've ever seen. (second commentator) If you've ever wanted to squeeze inside a snow globe, this is what it might feel like to be inside. [suspenseful music] The story of the firebird inspired Pyotr Yershov to write the fairy tale the Little Humpbacked Horse. Igor Stravinsky achieved international fame with his score for the Firebird, a sensation when it was first performed by the Ballets Russes in Paris in 1910, a century ago. [music stops, crowd cheers] (first commentator) Dramatic music, dramatic theme, and dramatic effect as the firebirds go on the journey. Again through the snow and the wind and the Christmas trees and into now different areas. The experiences of life. (event announcer) Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the athletes of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games! [commentator talking over Russian translation, inaudible] (second commentator) Through this magnificent forest of light, lights that change with each country's colours, enter the athletes. (first commentator) And they enter from under the stage. A real surprise for so many although we saw the ice organ coming from the base area of the stage. But no one expects to see every athlete come through the floor, through the base. But that's where they're coming, through the lights. And in just a couple of moments we'll welcome the 45 teams that are represented here. (event announcer) Australia! (first commentator) So Australia is the first and the flag-bearer Cameron Rahles-Rahbula is representing. What a wonderful, wonderful experience for all these fantastic athletes. From [unclear] in Victoria they have got so many representatives from Australia. They've won in all 28 medals at Paralympic Winter Games, in alpine skiing, mostly. Michael Milton is Australia's most successful winter Paralympian with six gold medals, 11 medals in total. They're actually wearing a black armband, you can see, and that's to celebrate the life of Matt Robinson, in memory of him, a snowboarder who died just last month after a training accident in Spain. His memorial service is being held today in Perth. (event announcer) Austria! (first commentator) A wonderful, wonderful moment. (second unidentified male announcer) Now Austria and their flag-bearer Philippe Bonadimann. Austria is one of the traditional powerhouses of the Paralympic Winter Games. They have won 102 gold medals, second only to Norway's 134. Success in alpine skiing has been common for Austria. They've won 88 golds in that sport. Their three gold medals in Vancouver in 2010, their lowest winter games tally, were all won in alpine skiing so you know they're going to be working hard on the hills of the Caucasus to regain their power and their perch atop this discipline. It must be quite a sight for these athletes to witness the beginning of the ceremony and to see the crowd. You can see the wonder in the eyes of the athletes. (event announcer) Andorra! (first commentator) Andorra, squeezed between Spain and France, of course. Alpine skier Xavier Barios and Miguel Llongueras became Andorra's first winter Paralympians when they competed in 2002 in Salt Lake City. We have here the Andorran flag-carrier Xavier Fernandez and... (event announcer) Argentina! (second commentator) Argentina's flag-bearer Pablo Javier Robledo. Their blues blending nicely with the natural blues. Of course, that part of the idea of the hanging globes. Argentina making its debut at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010 when alpine skier Leonardo Martinez and Juan Ignacio Maggi competed in the men's giant slalom sitting event. Argentina has yet to medal in this event. You know, one of those athletes, one of those incredible athletes would love to be the first. And the iPhones prevalent everywhere... (event announcer) Armenia! (first commentator) We now have Armenia. Really a great cheer, I have to say. Mher Avanesyan competed in alpine skiing in three editions of the Paralympic Winter Games in '98, 2006, and 2010. He also competed in sailing at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney. He is the flag carrier. Isn't that a wonderful moment for the 32-year-old Mher Avenesyan... (event announcer) Belarus! (second commentator) You can see the colours changing everywhere. Belarus and their flag-bearer Yadviha Skorabahataya. Belarus first participated at the Paralympic Winter Games in 1994 and won its first two medals in 2002 in Salt Lake City. Gold and silver, for Yadviha Skorabahataya in cross-country skiing. Certainly he's coming back with experience and with an eye on more hardware. (event announcer) Belgium! (first commentator) Belgium has one won medal at the Paralympic Winter Games. A bronze, by alpine skier Willy Mercier in men's super-G B1 event. That was in 1994. In 2010 at the Paralympic Winter Games Belgium were represented by alpine skier Natasha De Troyer. Finished in the top eight in four separate visually impaired events. She didn't manage to pick up a medal, but Denis Colle is the flag-carrier. (event announcer) Bulgaria! (second commentator) Bulgaria, indeed! The flag-bearer is Svetoslav Georgiev. Bulgaria made its debut at the Paralympic Winter Games in 1994. Bulgaria had participated in cross-country events in every Paralympic Winter Games since '94. The only other sport Bulgaria has competed in is biathlon in 2006. Another country yet to medal. (first commentator) You can see once again the flags of each country represented in the colours of the tubes. (event announcer) Bosnia and Herzegovina! (first commentator) So Bosnia and Herzegovina, again, another big cheer for them. The alpine skier Nijaz Memic was Bosnia and Herzegovina's first participant in the Paralympic Winter Games. He finished 39th in both the men's slalom standing and the men's giant slalom standing in 2010 in Vancouver. In fact, Bosnia and Herzegovina's flag carrier is Ilma Kazazic. (event announcer) Brazil! (second commentator) Brazil and their flag-bearer Andre Pereira. He became the first Brazilian athlete to ever qualify for a Paralympics. Brazil making its debut at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi right now. Pereira was encouraged to try snowboarding by friends who were already involved in the sport. His sporting philosophy, Pereira says "the mind commands and the body obeys". (event announcer) Great Britain! (first commentator) Great Britain alpine skiiers Richard Burt and Matthew Stockford have both won four medals at the Paralympic Winter Games, the most by British athletes. Great Britain's most recent medal was the silver claimed by the wheelchair curling team in Turin in 2006. Millie Knight, the very young Millie Knight is the flag carrier. I think she's actually just 15 years old. (event announcer) Germany! (second commentator) Germany and their flag-bearer Andrea Rothfuss. In total 221 medals, so as we discussed, some countries searching for their first. This country certainly not there. They are veterans at the bottom of the hill, veterans of being on top. Alpine skier Gerd Schönfelder has won 16 gold medals and 22 total at the Paralympic Winter Games, the most by any athlete in a single sport. Schönfelder, the only woman, the only athlete who won gold in six Paralympic Winter Games from '92 'til 2010. (event announcer) Greece! (first commentator) Efthymios Kalaras leads the way, the flag-carrier for Greece. Alpine skier Paraskevi Christodoulopoulo record Greece's best result in Vancouver in 2010, finishing in 16th place in the women's standing giant slalom. Greece have great ambitions in this particular event here in Sochi. (event announcer) Denmark! (second commentator) Denmark and Ulrik Nyvold, the flag-bearer. The first Danish athlete to win a medal at the Paralympic Winter Games was alpine skier Lars Nielsen who won a silver medal in skiing in Albertville in 1992. In total the Danes have won three, a total of six; three in 1994, six total Paralympic Winter Games medals. (event announcer) Islamic Republic of Iran! (first commentator) The Islamic Republic of Iran represented here by Sadegh Kalhor, the flag-carrier of Iran. (event announcer) Iceland! (second commentator) Iceland, Erna Fridriksdottir, alpine skier Erna Fridriksdottir as sole representative at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, competing in the women's giant slalom and slalom sitting events. She has some teammates along with her this time. Eager and enthused. Again, Iceland also looking for their first Paralympic Winter Games medal. (event announcer) Spain! (first commentator) And the Spanish again get a great roar of approval from the crowd here. Jon Santacana Maiztegui is the flag-bearer. You have to say they look absolutely fantastic in those beautiful red uniforms, the track suits. Spain has won 35 of its 38 medals in the Paralympic Winter Games in alpine skiing, including all 14 gold medals. Alpine skier Eric Villalon is Spain's most-decorated winter Paralympian. A total of eight medals including five gold. (event announcer) Italy! (second commentator) Italy's flag-bearer, Andrea Chiarotti, a veteran of many Olympics as an ice hockey player. The former star forward was an able-bodied hockey player, one of the pioneers of Italy's ice sledge hockey team that made its Paralympic debut when it hosted the Torino 2006 games. After failing to win a medal in Turin in 2006, four years later one of their stars, Nordic skier Francesca Porcellato became the first Italian athlete to win summer and winter Paralympic gold medals. (event announcer) Kazakhstan! (first commentator) Kazakhstan, well they have an extraordinary record. Yerlan Omaraov, the Nordic skiing competitor is the flag-carrier. One of only two nations, the other being Liechtenstein, to have won a medal at the Paralympic Winter Games without having won a medal at the Paralympic Games themselves. Cross-country skier Lubov Vorobieva won a silver medal in the women's 10km classic B2 event in Lillehammer in '94. (event announcer) Canada! (second commentator) Canada, led out by their flag-bearer Sonja Gaudet. Enjoying their most successful Paralympic Winter Games back in Vancouver. The hosts claimed a total of 19 medals including 10 gold, and the sledge hockey team is hoping to put together what would be a winter triple-golden experience in the Sochi Olympics. Canadian men and women took gold and this team's ice sledge hockey team with an excellent chance at winning gold as well. They are the number one seed coming in, the Canadian ice sledge hockey team. (event announcer) People's Republic of China! (first commentator) People's Republic of China led out by Tian Ye. China made its debut at the Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002. Cross-country skier Peng Yuanyuan finished fifth in the women's 5km classic standing in Vancouver in 2010. Everywhere they go the Chinese are expanding with great ambition. (event announcer) Mexico! (second commentator) Mexico's flag-bearer is Arly Velasquez. Mexico's strongest sport at the Paralympic Winter Games has been alpine skiing thanks to this man. Penaloza finished 26th in giant slalom, 33rd in slalom in sitting alpine skiing events in Vancouver in 2010. (event announcer) Mongolia! (first commentator) Mongolia led out by Ganbold Batmunhk. Made their debut in the Paralympic Winter Games in 2006. Nyamaa Sukhbaatar competed in cross-country skiing. Mongolia. (event announcer) Netherlands! (second commentator) The Netherlands' flag-bearer Bibian Mentel-Spee. All of the ten medals won by the Netherlands at the Paralympic Winter Games belong to Marjorie van de Bunt. She won two gold, four silver, and four bronze in cross-country skiing and biathlon. In 2010 the Netherlands were represented by alpine skier Kees-Jan van der Klooster. I should mention Bibien Mentel will be going up against USA's Amy Purdy in what we expect to be a memorable snowboarding battle. (event announcer) New Zealand! (first commentator) New Zealand's only medal in Vancouver in 2010 was won by Adam Hall. He claimed the victory in men's slalom standing event. Well guess what? He's been rewarded, he's taking the flag. He's the flag-bearer for New Zealand. Won all 27 medals in the Paralympic Winter Games in alpine skiing. Patrick Cooper has won four gold medals, the most by any New Zealand athlete. Also the only New Zealand athlete to have won medals at three editions of the Paralympic Winter Games. New Zealand. (event announcer) Norway! (second commentator) You can see the colours shift to the familiar Norwegian colours. Flag-bearer Mariann Marthinsen of Norway. One of six nations who have competed at all ten previous editions of the Paralympic Winter Games. And Norway, you'd think them a smaller nation but that have dominated over the years, hauling away 315 medals in total in their ten previous Paralympic Winter Games. They know all about hauling away medals. (event announcer) Poland! (first commentator) Maciej Krezel is the athlete carrying the flag. Poland, well, they've had a great record. They've won at least one medal at every Paralympic Winter Games since 1984. Poland's very succesful winter Paralympian is Marcin Kos who won four gold medals and seven total medals in cross-country skiing from '88 to '94. Cross-country skiing provided all 11 of Poland's gold medals won at the Paralympic Winter Games. Don't they look splendid in those wonderful, wonderful uniforms. Those track suits. And they really complement the scenery around them. Those beautiful bells, in fact, the tubular bells... (event announcer) Republic of Korea! (second commentator) In a foreshadowing of the next Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. Korea's flag-bearer Jung Seung-Hwan, people call him the fastest ice sledge hockey player on earth. Twenty-eight year-old rising star. He says that ice sledge hockey is the flower of the Paralympic Winter Games, so I feel a bit of pressure from this being the flag-bearer, but also very honoured. Boy, they get right into it, opening up the sledge hockey tournament against the host Russians who have come a long way. We'll talk more about them here at the end of this parade. (event announcer) Romania! (first commentator) Romania's first Paralympic Winter Games participation came in Vancouver in 2010. Alpine skier Laura Valenau competed in giant slalom and slalom standing events, and guess what? She's actually carrying the flag! Well done, Laura. (event announcer) Serbia! (second unidentified male announcer) Serbia's flag-bearer is Jugoslav Milosevic, The Serbian nation's debut in Vancouver in 2010, this then their second go-round. Alpine skier Jasmin Bambur competed in four events in alpine skiing. Serbia also hunting their first Paralympic Winter Games medal. (event announcer) Slovakia! (first commentator) Jakub Krako is the flag-carrier, and he's excited as me. A good big wave and a kiss to the crowd, is also popular and the fans are watching. All six Slovakia's Paralympic Winter Games gold medals came in Vancouver in 2010. Six were split evenly by two alpine skiiers, Jakub Krako, the flag-carrier, and Henrieta Farkasova. Alpine skier Jozef Mistina is Slovakia's most decorated winter Paralympian. He's won eight medals, five silver and three bronze, in his career. It's big ambitions for Slovakia. (event announcer) Slovenia! (second commentator) Slovenia's flag-bearer Gal Jakic, alpine skier, finishing 29th in the slalom sitting event in Vancouver in 2010. You know he wants to come back here and improve on that result, and Slovenia among the countries yet to win a medal. (event announcer) United States of America! (second commentator) The USA, United States of America. Jonathan Lujan carrying the red, white and blue. The United States has competed in every edition of the Paralympic Winter Games, winning medals in every one apart from the first games in 1976. Their most successful games came in 1994 in Lillehammer, where they won 24 gold, 12 silver, and 7 bronze. In recent Paralympics, though, it has been lean, averaging 38 medals in six Paralympics from 1984 to 2002 but totalling just 25 in the last two Paralympics. You know that the USA wants to come in here and make a big statement and they appear to have a chance to do just that. One of the teams we'll be following very closely over the next ten days. (event announcer) Turkey! (first commentator) We've gone from one of the most successful teams to a team making its debut here. Debut for the winter Paralympic Games in Sochi for Turkey. The flag-carrier Mehmet Cekic. Those near neighbours, you can normally see them from across the Black Sea. I'm joking, but it's just across the water from us and I'm sure they'd be delighted to be here and celebrate their first appearance at a Paralympic Winter Games. Turkey. (event announcer) Uzbekistan! (second commentator) Uzbekistan's flag-bearer Ramil Gayazov, an alpine skier. Another one of the three countries making their Paralympic Winter Games debut. Ramil Gayazov hoping to be a part of a first medal-winning team here in Sochi. (event announcer) Ukraine! (first commentator) Mykailo Tkachenko is the flag-carrier for Ukraine. They get a huge round of applause. Their very first successful Paralympic winter games athlete was Elena Yurkovskaya. She won five golds, five silver, and five bronze medals in cross-country skiing and biathlon. And of course cross-country will be one of the sports that Ukraine will be certainly targeting. (event announcer) Finland! (second commentator) Finland's flag-bearer Katja Saarinen. Finland has won a total of 161 medals in cross-country skiing alone, the most by any nation at the Paralympic Winter Games. Jouko Grip has won ten golds and 15 in total in cross-country skiing and biathlon, the most by a Finnish athlete at the Paralympic Winter Games. (event announcer) France! (first commentator) Vincent Gauthier-Manuel is the flag-carrier for France. They won six medals in 2010. Four in alpine skiing, including one gold medal for Nicolas Béréjny in men's super-G visually-impaired. Bernard Baudean is France's most successful athlete at the Paralympic Winter Games. He has won six gold medals and eleven in total in alpine skiing. That was from the mid-'70s to the mid-'90s. A twenty-year career. France again have great ambitions. (event announcer) Croatia! (second commentator) Croatia and their flag-bearer, alpine skier Dino Sokolovic. Croatia making its Paralympic Winter Games debut back in Salt Lake City in 2002. Their best performance an eighth in a women's event, the women's slalom in Salt Lake City. And again, Croatia hunting a first medal of any kind at a Paralympic Winter Games. (event announcer) Czech Republic! (first commentator) Well, from down here we'll certainly enjoy the [inaudible] is all red, white, and blue. The same colours as the Russian flag in different elements and patterns. The Czech Republic have won at least one medal in all five Paralympic Winter Games in which it has participated. That was from 1994 to 2010. Best haul of seven medals in 1998. Alpine skier Katerina Tepla won five gold medals across the '98 to 2002 winter games. Stanislav Loska the flag-carrier. There you can see... (event announcer) Chile! (second commentator) Chile, and Jorge Migueles, alpine skier. Chile made its debut at the Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. It was represented by two alpine skiers in Vancouver in 2010. You can see the team growing. Again, growing but yet to medal. Imagine what one of those young men will feel like if they head back to Chile with the nation's first ever Paralympic Winter Games medal. (event announcer) Switzerland! (first commentator) You'd expect the Swiss to be doing well, wouldn't you? In 2010 Christof Kunz won Switzerland's only gold medal in the men's alpine skiing downhill sitting event. He also won silver in the giant slalom in Vancouver. Guess what? He's now leading the way with the flag. There he is! There is Christoph Kunz. Alpine skiers Rolf Heinzmann and Heinz Frei have both won 14 winter Paralympics medals, the most by Swiss athletes. Heinzmann's 12 gold medals is also a Swiss record. Switzerland are -- ah, look at this! A little bit of a relay. [laughs] Formula 1, it will be coming here for real later on... (event announcer) Sweden! (second commentator) A tough act for the Swedes' flag-holder to follow. Flag-bearer Jalle Jungnell, a wheelchair curler. Sweden hosted its first Paralympic Winter Games back in 1976 and is one of only six nations who have appeared at every edition of the games. Their most successful winter Paralympic athlete is cross-country skier Birgitta Sund who won six medals, all of them gold. Sweden, 95 total Paralympic Winter Games medals. (event announcer) Japan! (first commentator) Another very popular team have been gathering experience and expertise over many years now. Hosted it twice before. Shoko Ota leads the way. She's the flag-carrier for Japan. One of six nations to have participated in all ten previous editions of the Paralympic Winter Games. Alpine skier Kuniko Obinata has competed in five Paralympic Winter Games. That was up until 2010. During that time she won ten medals including two gold medals, making her the most successful Japanese athlete at the Paralympic Winter Games. Guess what? You all know, don't you, what's coming next? You can hear, fell the crescendo of the crowd, it is... (event announcer) Russian Federation! (first commentator) [laughs] The Russian Federation, led by Valerii Redkozubov. They are absolutely brought in to a crescendo of noise. It's stunning, you've got to be affected by this if you're one of those athletes, I tell you. I've got a lump in my throat telling you about it. It's extraordinary out here! Russia made their debut at the 1994 games in Lillehammer. Of the ten gold medals they won in Lillehammer, eight of them came in Nordic skiing, the sport that provides all but two of their 54 gold medals won at the games. The only gold medals won outside of Nordic skiing won by alpine skier Alexei Moshkine, who won the mixed super-G in '94 and the giant slalom. Russia's most successful games in terms of gold medals won was the 2006 games in Turin. Visually-impaired Nordic skier Lioubov Vasilieva won two individual and one relay gold, helping Russia to a total of 33 medals including 13 gold. In Vancouver 17-year-old Nordic skier Mikhalina Lysova won four individual medals, two silver and two bronze, and a gold in the women's 3 x 2.5km relay. It is stunning here. You realize that I'm almost shouting against myself here because it is so noisy inside this fabulously-packed 40,000 crowd at Fisht stadium. It's a remarkable event; how proud Mr. Putin must be. Not only of the teams, but of course, also all of the efforts of the teams that have gone into building this amazing facility. It is quite phenomenal. You think I'm excited, you're going to have to wait another nine days to hear me really excited, let me tell you. It's fantastic! (second commentator) I think there's plenty of applause also from Mr. Putin and everyone in here for the 2500 Sochi volunteers who are every bit as important as the athletes to making a successful and memorable games. Certainly the raucous celebration goes out to the Russian Paralympians and also all the volunteers. It is a community celebration, one with another here. (first commentator) You can see that all the athletes have now been sat down just below the height of the actual stage itself so they will get a fantastic view of all the proceedings, the protocol, the arrival of the torch, the lifting up of the Paralympic flag. It is something very, very special. It's red, white, and blue here; that is for sure! Not so much blue, more red-hot I would say, but certainly these Paralympian athletes will never forget this moment in their whole lives. It doesn't matter how they perform. No question, this is a moment they will treasure and cherish. (second commentator) There is no doubt that this emotion will fuel them on their athletic field, whatever that may be. There's a little bit of pressure, certainly being the home nation, the host nation, but also brings a tremendous lift from the crowd and it does raise these tremendous athletes to often memorable personal bests. And the sledge hockey team here, hoping to do well and maybe break through the Canadian and USA stronghold. Now we downshift again from the celebration of the athletes. The word Paralympics derives from the Greek word "para" meaning "alongside" and the word Olympic. It illustrates how the Paralympics are the parallel games to the Olympics, the two movements existing side by side. And now we get back to the second flight of the firebird. Woodland magic creatures and spirit birds guide the athletes to their seating areas. That has happened and now the magic forest is a place where dreams are born and incredible journeys begin. (first commentator) We are now on a frozen lake. Dance movements, wheelchair performers, and and just look at the way in which the apparent movement of the snow on the lake is making extraordinary, extraordinary patterns. Julia Samoilova. [slow piano music, singing in Russian] [chorus sings in Russian] (first commentator) Again, the projections, just look at it. Isolating that central portion. The ice floe is now detached. A remarkable vista of beauty, with the blues and the greens and the turquoises against the colourful firebirds as they descend onto the ice. Three hundred ice fishermen including graceful wheelchair dancers here. Stunning display of mass choreography. Magical patterns on the ice. Beautiful Russian symbols and signs. Some choreography which is quite transfixing. [singing in Russian] [flutes join the music] Julia Samoilova is actually a winner of the reality TV show Faktor A. That song she's just sung, If You Need a Friend, composed by [phonetic: Gregorio Potzentino] is being wonderfully well-received here in Russia. It's a very, very popular song. You can understand why it's now being used in this wonderful celebration. The fishermen now create magical patterns across the ice including this maze. [chorus singing in Russian] An emotional Julia looks over the top of what is an absolutely amazing, amazing pattern. Is it a deer? Are the lights, the aurora borealis, the northern lights appearing from the high latitudes on dark nights in these parts really have given us the theme and what an extraordinary, beautiful setting. [Julia Samoilova sings in Russian] [song finishes, crowd applauds] Emotions on every side of this stadium. Inside and outside, big tears of joy. Stoke Mandeville Hospital in 1948 was the venue for the first of the Paralympic Games. (second commentator) The origins of the Paralympic movement can be traced back to these 1948 Stoke Mandeville games held in a small English village when sixteen ex-servicemen and women competed in wheelchair archery. The games are the creation of Sir Ludwig Guttmann, an extraordinary scientist who introduced a whole new approach to treating and empowering war veterans with spinal cord injuries. The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome, Italy, in 1960. In 1976 the first Paralympic Winter Games were held in Sweden where seventeen nations participated. The new Paralympic motto "Spirit in Motion" was introduced in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. [crowd cheers] (event announcer) Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the president of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, and the president of the International Paralympic Committee, Sir Philip Craven. (first commentator) So Dmitry Chernyshenko, the president of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee was hugely successful. (Dmitry Chernyshenko) [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] (second commentator) Applause indeed, he was awarded the Order of Honour in recognition of the successful bid that brought the Paralympics to Sochi. (Dmitry Chernyshenko) The stage is set. It's time for the athletes to come to the front. It's time for the athletes to break down barriers, both on and off the field of play. The Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi will demonstrate the power of sport to unite and inspire the world. This is the beginning of a lasting legacy. A lasting legacy for Sochi, for Russia, and for the world. [crowd cheers] And now it's my pleasure to invite the president of International Paralympic Committee, Sir Philip Craven, to deliver his speech. (Sir Philip Craven) Россия! [crowd cheers] Athletes, officials, distinguished guests, Paralympic sports fans from all over the world. добрый вечер! [speaking Russian] The home of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. Tonight is a very special occasion. Tonight is proof that what might not seem possible is possible. [crowd cheers] Thirty years ago when the old Soviet Union declined the opportunity to stage the 1980 Paralympic Games in Moscow, the prospect of Russia staging its first Paralympic Games was nothing but a dream. But dreams do come true and since winning the games seven years ago this part of Russia has undergone a monumental transformation. However, the biggest transformation for this country is still yet to come. [crowd cheers] In the same way that the city of Sochi has built a barrier-free environment for athletes and officials to enjoy, I call upon all those who experience these games to have barrier-free minds, too. [crowd cheers] For over the coming days you will watch high-performance sport showcasing feats of endurance that will surprise you. Tremendous skills that will excite you and examples of human endeavour that will inspire you. The sport you witness here will change you. Not just for now, but forever. [crowd cheers] Special thanks must go to Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Kozak and the entire Russian government. To Dmitry Chernyshenko's Sochi 2014 team, and the thousands of volunteers for not just being our welcoming hosts but for the desire and commitment to create a magnificent platform upon which change will happen. [crowd cheers] I would also like to welcome Thomas Bach to his first Paralympic Winter Games as IOC president and his predecessor Jacques Rogge, both of whom have played major roles in the growth of the Paralympic movement. [crowd cheers] Athletes and officials from a record 45 national Paralympic committees, welcome to the games! A games where sport must be the winner. [crowd cheers] You have superb sporting venues to express your amazing talents and live up to the Paralympic values of determination and courage, inspiration and equality. Together you are catalysts for change. United as one you have the ability to change perceptions and alter attitudes like no other. You arrive here as the best-prepared athletes ever to attend the Paralympic Winter Games. You will leave as role models, heroes, pioneers, and most of all, proud Paralympians. [crowd cheers] If London 2012 had its games-makers, then you, the Sochi 2014 athletes, volunteers, officials, and staff, you will be change-makers. [crowd cheers] I wish you all the very best of luck. Play fair, and most of all, have fun. [crowd cheers] It is now my honour to invite the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to declare open the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games! (first commentator) An extraordinary and emotional moment there as Vladimir Putin comes to the stage. (Vladimir Putin) [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] (first commentator) The games are open here in Sochi as the fireworks display it's the most remarkable feeling for all of us. It was emotional before the speeches. It was even more emotional and electric after the speeches and right now the world is lit up for another great story. (event announcer) Ladies and gentlemen, the Paralympic flag! (second commentator) The Paralympic flag was first seen at the Athens games in 2004. It features three asymmetrical crescents known as agitos, meaning "I love" in Latin. The crescents are red, green, and blue; the most popular colours of nations' flags and are arranged in a circular formation that is a symbol of the IPC's role in bringing the athletes of the world together. Now, enter the Paralympic flag. Held by Andrey Strokin, a visually-impaired swimmer, five-time champion of the Paralympic Games. Irek Mannanov, four-time champion and six-time medalist of the Paralympic Games in ski race and biathlon for visually-impaired athletes. Margarita Goncharova, three-time champion of Paralympic Games, multiple-time winner of world and Russian championships of track and field athletics. [phonetic: Alexander Nemevakan], the first president of the Paralympic Committee of Russia, stood at the roots of the Paralympic movement in Russia due to his active involvement. The Paralympic team of the USSR participated in the Paralympic games for the first time in Seoul. The president of the All-Russia Society of the Visually Impaired. Elena Lozko, president of the Federation of Wheelchair Dancers. Her name is on the list of Guinness records as the first champion of this kind in sport. Egor Beroev, Russian actor performing in theatre and film. Igor is one of the founders of Ya Yest! "I am". Elizabeta Glinka, philanthropist, emergency physician, founder and head of Fair Aid Fund, providing health for people with disabilities. All the while the agitos, the colours moving against the blues. An absolutely stunning juxtaposition of colours, and really of emotions and get ready for the biggest send-off you may ever see. These games are about to erupt. [music stops, crowd cheers] (event announcer) Ladies and gentlemen, as is customary and for those who can, please stand for the Paralympic anthem. [Paralympic anthem plays] [anthem ends, crowd cheers] (event announcer) Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome representatives of the Russian delegation to take the Paralympic oaths. (second commentator) An athlete first swore an oath on behalf of his peers in 1964. An official has taken an oath since 1980, and in London 2012 for the first time a coach joined them in pledging their commitment to the ideals of the Paralympic... (event announcer) To take the Paralympic oath on behalf of all athletes Valeriy Redkozubov. (Valeriy Redkozubov) [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] [speaking Russian] [crowd cheers] (event announcer) To take the Paralympic oath on behalf of all judges, Elena Mokerova. (Elena Mokerova) In the name of all the judges and officials I promise that we shall officiate in this Paralympic Winter Games with complete impartiality, respect, and abiding by the rule of governance in the true spirit of sportsmanship. [crowd cheers] (event announcer) To take the Paralympic oath on behalf of all coaches, Alexander Nazarov. (Alexander Nazarov) In the name of all coaches and other members of the athlete entourage I promise that we shall commit ourselves to ensuring that the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play is fully adhered to and upheld in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Paralympic movement. [crowd cheers] (second commentator) After the pledges and oaths, it's time for the journey of the firebirds three! Sit back and enjoy the fun. [silence] [choral music sung in Russian] (first commentator) The Pan-Russian Choir singing an a capella version of the traditional folk song Mother of Russia. [song ends, crowd cheers] A wonderful, wonderful version of a very traditional folk song. Five large tables are laid now with plates and glasses, chairs and benches are in place by joyful guests. Five chandeliers descend from above. Everything is made of ice and the scene is set for a great celebration, a wedding celebration. [slow traditional music] [joyful carrying on by guests] We've been exposed to some wonderful moments of Russian heritage and history. The colour and excitement. Really, really impressive. It's not just with this opening ceremony, it's the games that... We're going to get a great surprise in a moment. After all the celebration there's going to be one very, very large intervention. One can only guess what it might be. [music picks up tempo, strings and accordion] Even the plates are made of ice! And mentioning ice, a huge horn lights up and the image of something quite spectacular draws our attention from the left of the screen in just a couple of moments. Quite spectacular. What is that noise? Oh wow. Russia has a long tradition of icebreakers, the special-purpose ships designed to navigate through ice-covered waters. From the earliest days of polar exploration to the construction of the world's largest nuclear-powered icebreaker, due for completion in 2017. [slow music, soprano singing in Russian] Maria Guleghina. For Russians the word "mir" holds a special meaning. It translates as "peace" or "world" and was the name of the space station that spent 15 years in orbit from '86 to 2001. It came to symbolize the country's space glories. Mir means "peace" here, during this opening ceremony. And just look at the size and the scale of this extraordinary icebreaker as it makes its way across this fantastic stage inside the opening ceremony stadium. The ship is both physically and metaphorically breaking barriers. Opening new channels of communication, tracing new paths for mankind. [ship creaks through ice] Maria Guleghina is a member of the honorary board of the International Paralympic Committee and a goodwill ambassador to UNICEF. The ship departs, the ice blocks are assembled to spell out the word, in Russian, it means "together". The ice blocks moving now in extraordinary formation. Such wonderful, wonderful discipline. Then the firebirds come floating over the top of this extraordinary, wonderful vision. There's the word "together" in ice blocks from Sochi. And again, against that extraordinary translucent ice floats the firebirds in brilliant colours of oranges and yellows. Now a moment that will really, really impress everyone. The water shimmers and moves the ice once again. A different pattern developing. Every element of technology working in perfect harmony with the human input. The music by Maria Bonzanigo is Sul Filo del Pensiero. Perfectly dramatic for this moment of the ceremony. Again the movement of the water does its business and moves the ice blocks into agitos! The Paralympian logo. [voice on video] I am the flame that lights extraordinary athletes. The whole world cannot fail to see their fire. I began as a spark in one man's mind. Ludwig Guttmann. A summer day in 1948, archery on the lawn. The Stoke Mandeville Games were born. A competition that would one day become the Paralympic Games. Stoke Mandeville; forever their spirit will will hum. I am a flame; bring me back to life. A fire, formed from the very core of human endeavour. I am the flame that lights the fire of the Paralympic Games. I pour blinding light on indomitable and pure spirit in motion. I am the flame that protects diversity, equality, and rights. This movement enshrined in its very being, sport with no discrimination by politics, religion, economy, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or race. I am the flame of freedom, friendship, and magnificent, extraordinary athletic feats. Inspired by one man's respect and belief in the equality of every beautiful, precious, and sacred life. I am the flame and now I am here. (event announcer) Ladies and gentlemen, the Paralympic flame! (second commentator) The firebird finally arrives in Sochi where snow-capped mountains meet the sunlit shores of the Black Sea. Her mission is complete at the magnificent Fisht Olympic stadium. Stand by for a spectacular glow. (event announcer) The Paralympic flame is carried by Alexey Ashapatov, four-time Paralympic champion in track and field. (first commentator) The first torch carrier into the stadium. As the stadium opens up you can see that there is a channel through which he is able to walk. The sea has just gone back, the beach is there welcoming him to the stadium. He will pass it on to the second in just a couple of moments. (second commentator) Alexey Ashapatov with the hand-off. (event announcer) Olga Semenova, three-time Paralympic champion in track and field. (first commentator) Of course the choir forming the crowd here have been absolutely magnificent. Just look at the costumes, the amount of time and effort and energy that's gone into making all the costumes as these wonderful athletes of yesteryear... (event announcer) Taras Kryjanovski, three-time Paralympic champion in cross-country skiing. (second commentator) Kryjanovski, with his moment of emotion and triumph. He will pass the torch on to yet another Paralympic champion. (event announcer) Oxana Savchenko, eight-time Paralympic champion in swimming. (first commentator) Oxana Savchenko, again is the fourth athlete to move with this remarkable torch. It actually is... (event announcer) Olesya Vladykina, two-time Paralympic champion in swimming. (first commentator) Vladykina, she takes the torch... I was just about to explain... (event announcer) Sergei Shilov, six-time Paralympic champion in cross-country skiing. (first commentator) ... symbol of the feather taken from the firebird who's been flying with us all evening, the firebird. And now as they go towards the exit of the stadium we know there's something going to be extraordinary once again. The 40,000 craning their necks here inside the stadium to see what is now going to happen. Just listen to the crowd. And there are the ice blocks that we've seen escorting the icebreaker. A little down the ramp and into more stardom and fame and just wonderful reward for a marvellous career over the years. The atmosphere again is absolutely electric. All these stars, the marchers who have worked so hard for so long to bring the best that they could to show the world. Oh, and there it is, the cauldron once again and an extraordinary light up of colour. It is quite simply stunning. (second commentator) So the flame at long last reaches its end, or is it the beginning of the games? For all of these Paralympians, more than 500. Seventy-two events await, and 45 nations are here, ready to celebrate. And I want you to stand back, open your eyes, and just take this all in as Sochi lights up once again outside of Fisht stadium. [crowd cheers] (first commentator) It makes its way up through towards the cauldron and it will now climb the stairs of history. Right here, up it goes; it's a spectacular, spectacular start to these games! And it bursts into life! And the pyrotechnics absolutely do the same. Look at the fountains around it, it is the most gloriously colourful and most emotional feeling here at the opening of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. We are here in great numbers to celebrate, and around the world I'm hoping that you can feel the spirit as well. The Paralympic flames symbolize much more than just a sign that Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games are in session. They are now open, of course they are! It's a flame of hope and of and ambition. Of friendship and fairness. It's the flame of righteousness and achievement against all odds. And most importantly, it's the flame that keeps the heart and spirit of all Paralympians and their families and friends alive and forever grateful for the opportunity to share their passion for life. Let the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games bring us all joy wherever we are in the world. [crowd cheers] (event announcer) Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for having celebrated the start of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games with us tonight. This concludes the opening ceremony. Thank you and good night to you all! [sound of fireworks exploding and the crowds] [crowd noises] [inspirational music]