Paralympic games officially opened - volunteer bears Afghanistan

The Japanese Kaiser Naruhito opened the 16th Paralympic summer games in Tokyo. The Tenno spoke at 22:08 local time the traditional greeting formula.

As the Japanese Kaiser Naruhito at 22:08 local time the XVI. Summer Paralympics finally opened with a year late delay, the continuous theme Corona in Tokyo did not matter shortly. The German team around the proud banner carrier Mareike Miller and Michael Teuber pursued the colorful and emotional ceremony in the empty olympic stadium with radiant faces. Also IPC President Andrew Parsons were clearly noticeable on the side of Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, satisfaction and relief.

The Tenno spoke the traditional greeting formula with a slight rain. 42 minutes later, three Japanese topathles ignited the fire of Paralympics, over which the critical pandemic location is a dark shade. Parsons, boss of the International Paralympic Committee, was efforted in the late Tuesday evening, however, to distribute this shadow in the presence of the teams from 162 countries with the motto We have wings.

Many have doubted that this day will come. But we never lost faith, Parsons said, We will take care of a new perception for people with disabilities. We stand before playing the world. The athletes would have been in preparation Everything given: blood, sweat and tears. Now you can show the world what you can do, said the IPC President Very happy about that we have reached this point .

Merkel wishes para-athletes much success

Chancellor Angela Merkel sent greetings into afar Japan. You wish all athletes and athletes successful competitions and - despite the special pandemic circumstances - unforgettable sporting moments.

Miller and Teuber had ever, when they led Germany as a 103th nation into the Olympic Stadium. This is overwhelming, said cyclists Teuber moved. For wheelchair basketball leather and active speaker Miller everything was very big and especially. This is goose bumps pure. There are many beautiful pictures.

But with all the beautiful pictures and words: the 4403 athletes and athletes move until 5 September in 22 sports with 539 decisions between the great hope of medals and the even greater fear of a positive test. Athletin Irmgard Bensusan had talked about a horror performance in advance.

The Team D with its 133 German athletes (plus three guides) around Para-Star Markus Rehre spreading confidence. Friedhelm Julius Courier, President of the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS), touched the anticipation emotionally together: It's such a tingling and 'I want to' in the air, that's just a great situation. You are also looking forward to a restricted opening ceremony.

Afghanistan athletes do not attack - volunteer carries banner

As with the competitions, no fans were admitted to around three hours of kick-off with 5,500 statists. There were also the two athletes from Afghanistan - the seizure of power of the radicallamic Taliban in their country has prevented their participation. Representing for you, your national banner was carried out of solidarity from a volunteer in the stadium.

The prelude to the traditional entry of the athletes made the small refugee team. A special honor was also given to the German Para Sprinter Johannes Floor's: He was allowed to carry the Paralympische flag with five other athletes.

The competitions start on Wednesday. For Germany, cyclists could provide Denise Schindler on the train for the first medal.

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The Paralympics will continue to be superimposed by the Greater Corona theme. The Japanese capital still applies to the emergency, in recent days, record values ​​were registered with new infections (over 25,000). The situation in the hospitals is considered extremely tense. You will take all actions, emphasized OK President Hashimoto Seiko at the opening ceremony, to enable safe games.