On August 19, the first group of members of the Chinese sports delegation for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games set off for Tokyo.

Photo courtesy of China Disabled Persons' Federation

　　Chinanews client, Beijing, August 24th (Xingchen Liu) On the evening of the 24th Beijing time, when the night light illuminates Tokyo Bay, along with the gorgeous fireworks blooming over the New National Arena, the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games officially kicked off.

After a lapse of 16 days, Tokyo once again blew a sports storm.

　　57 years ago, in Tokyo in 1964, Asian countries hosted the Paralympics for the first time.

Amid the melodious drums, 378 participating athletes slowly entered the Oda Stadium, and this significant opening ceremony kicked off.

When the 53 Japanese players finally entered the stadium, a Japanese pop song "Sukiyaki" sounded. The athletes completed the oath on behalf of Shigeo Ao, and 500 peace pigeons flew with everyone's good wishes.

　　When the Olympic flame is lit again in Tokyo, and when the Paralympic Games logo is set in Tokyo Odaiba Seaside Park, this Paralympic Games also has some special significance.

Image source: Official Weibo of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

　　On August 21, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee announced the concept of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games. The concept of the opening ceremony is "We Have Wings", which means "We Have Wings."

On the afternoon of the 24th, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force "Blue Shockwave" aerobatic team performed a demonstration flight over Tokyo for about 15 minutes to warm up for the opening ceremony.

In the opening ceremony, the paralympic athletes' spirit of "spreading their wings and flying" will be highlighted in the program.

　　Affected by the epidemic, except for a few games where students are allowed to enter the stadium, most games will be played without spectators.

On August 22, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee revealed that about 130,000 students were admitted to watch the Paralympic Games, and the specific number still needs to be determined according to the situation.

The picture shows the mascot of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

　　Similar to the previous Tokyo Olympics, the Paralympics are also facing a strict test of epidemic prevention this time.

According to media reports on the 23rd, related personnel of the Tokyo Paralympic Games added 13 new confirmed cases.

Given that the epidemic situation in Japan is not optimistic, the Tokyo Paralympic Organizing Committee will also strengthen relevant anti-epidemic measures.

Specific measures include increasing the frequency of virus detection for event-related personnel. Event-related personnel who traveled to Japan from overseas will still be restricted from moving after 14 days of independent isolation.

　　In addition, as the highlight of previous opening ceremonies, lighting the torch is still attracting attention.

Who and how to ignite the torch of the Tokyo Paralympic Games has also become the biggest suspense at the opening.

Image source: Tokyo Paralympic Games official website.

The picture shows the fire-gathering ceremony in Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympic Games.

　　The early stage of the torch relay was divided into three stages.

In the first stage, the torch gathering event was held in 43 prefectures and counties outside of the Paralympic Games.

In the second stage, a one-day torch gathering event was held in Shizuoka, Chiba, Saitama, Tokyo and other places where the competition was held. However, the torch relay on the road originally planned in these four areas was cancelled due to the epidemic.

　　In the third stage, the torch ignited all over Japan and the torch collected in Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympics, gathered in Tokyo.

　　Flames from all over the country "advance" toward Tokyo, and eventually formed the "Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Torch". After arriving at the Olympic Stadium, the main torch of the Paralympic Games will be lit at the opening ceremony.

Image source: China Disabled Persons' Federation Weibo.

　　On August 23, the Chinese sports delegation announced that Zhou Jiamin, a female wheelchair archery athlete, and Wang Hao, a male handicapped track and field athlete, will serve as the flag bearers of the Chinese sports delegation at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

At the opening ceremony, the Chinese sports delegation will appear in the 98th place.

　　Zhou Jiamin won the 2016 Rio Paralympic compound bow open individual competition and mixed doubles championship.

At this Paralympic Games, she will participate in the women's compound bow competition.

Wang Hao won the 2017 and 2019 World Paralympic Track and Field Championships long jump gold medal.

At this Paralympic Games, he will participate in the men's T46 100-meter sprint, long jump and 4x100-meter mixed relay for men and women.

On August 19, the first group of members of the Chinese sports delegation for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games set off for Tokyo.

Image source: China Disabled Persons' Federation.

　　The Tokyo Paralympic Games will be held from August 24 to September 5, lasting 13 days.

This time there are 22 major events and 539 minor events, and more than 4,000 athletes from all over the world will compete.

　　The total number of the Chinese sports delegation is 437, and there are 251 athletes.

The oldest is 56 years old and the youngest is 16 years old.

They will participate in 20 major events and 341 minor events. This is also the largest event of the Chinese delegation in the Paralympic Games abroad.

　　It is worth mentioning that these athletes are amateurs, and their occupations include workers, farmers, students, civil servants, employees, and freelancers.

Data map: In 2016, the opening ceremony of the 15th Summer Paralympic Games was held at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The picture shows the Chinese delegation entering the stadium. The fencing champion Rong Jing is the flag bearer.

　　Since the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, the Chinese delegation has occupied the top position in the gold medal list in all previous Paralympic Games. In the last Rio Paralympic Games, the Chinese delegation won 107 gold, 81 silver and 51 bronze, with a total of 239 medals. This time, the Chinese Paralympic delegation set the goal of "achieving a double harvest of sports performance and spiritual civilization". (End)