Paralympics 2008

The organisers of the Beijing Paralympics had long promised a Games of equal splendour to the Olympics and Saturday's spectacular opening ceremony has set a high benchmark for the rest of the competition.

Drawing on the themes of sky,earth and humans, the production featured dance, music, fireworks that shook the Bird's Nest Stadium, pink trees and the most amazing climax and torch lighting imaginable.

Hou Bin has won high jump gold medals at the last three Paralympics but he needed all of his strength for his role at the climax of the torch relay, propelling himself and his wheelchair up 70 feet into the air to light the torch and signal the start of the Games.

I was sat near my BBC colleague Tanni Grey-Thompson in the stadium and she said it was the most spectacular opening ceremony she had seen since Barcelona.

"The flame lighting was amazing and having the athletes in the stadium watching the action rather than standing outside waiting to come in was a great move," she said.

This was an opening ceremony that had integration at its heart, whether it was bringing the athletes into the stadium first, encouraging members of the audience to wave torches to imitate stars or make animal noises or the inclusion of disabled musicians and dancers into the performance.

Unlike many Olympics and Paralympics past where athletes were forced to wait around for a long time before they made their way into the stadium, this time the entrance of the athletes was almost at the start of proceedings - London, take note!

Going in Chinese alphabetical order, the Spanish delegation almost caused a pile-up on their way around the track such was their exuberance, the Finland athletes were cursed with the worst outfits - shirts and dresses in the Finnish flag, but Britain's Danny Crates was one of the proudest people taking part.

The Essex athlete led in the British team, slightly depleted by competitors in action on Sunday opting to rest and those missing in action in Qingdao and Hong Kong.

But there were still plenty of smiles and a rousing reception for the team with the rowers making their presence felt in their first Games with Alan Sherman, cox of the mixed four, being carried in shoulder-high by the team's coaching staff.

Among the other nations, South Africa were led by swimmer Natalie du Toit, who also led in the Olympic team at their opening ceremony.

Du Toit will be on the gold trail again here and looked far more comfortable in a dark trouser suit than she did during the Olympic ceremony where she had to wear a long skirt and Crocs shoes.

But not surprisingly, the biggest cheer was reserved for the home nation who have a team of 332 athletes the largest delegation here and although they knew it before now, their nation expects much from them.

With athletes all paraded and in their seats, they and the audience were treated to a musical and dance spectacular with those pink trees part of a Four Seasons segment while 300 deaf girls, all clad in white, performed a sign language dance in perfect synchronicity.

There were also reminders of some of the hardships that China has faced in the recent past with one section featuring 12-year-old dancer Li Yuan who lost her leg in the Sichuan earthquake earlier this year but still has the dream of being a ballerina.

She took centre stage in a version of Ravel's Bolero which saw her lifted high above the rest of the performers wearing a single red ballet pump.

Another special moment saw 2,000 children performing a cartoon dance and changing into the four forms of frog, seagull, cow and duck, along with the accompanying noises which the audience were all encouraged to mimic.

But it was the official business which reminded everyone of what the athletes are here for - the Paralympic oath, the flag entering the stadium and, of course, the lighting of the torch.

As Ping Yali, who was China's first Paralympic gold medallist in the long jump in 1984 handed over to Hou Bin, the excitement level rose in the arena.

As he made his way up to the torch, the audience cheered him on every inch and when he lit the torch it brought one reaction - wow.

China has set a high standard but as the Games begin, they seem set to continue on where they have started.