CRI听力:Paralympics Opens in London

Over 3-thousand people took part in the performance called "Enlightenment".

Britain's most famous living scientist Stephen Hawking also brought his own message to the stadium, saying he hoped people could bravely challenge their disabilities and create a better world.

"We live in a universe governed by rational laws that we can discover and understand. Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious."

Sebastian Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, talked about the origin of the Paralympics and welcomed the games to return to the UK, its birth place.

"It is my great honour to say, welcome home to the Paralympic Games. The movement that has led us here to this exhilarating moment to these incredible Games began here in Britain on the day London opened the 1948 Olympic Games. For that day saw not only the Olympic Opening Ceremony in Wembley, but also 35-miles away at Stoke Mandeville, an archery demonstration for paraplegics. And it was this vision that launched Ludwig Guttmann's great venture, it was this that launched the Paralympic Games."

President of the International Paralympic Committee Philip Craven expressed his hope that athletes would live up to people's expectations and perform well in the Games.

"You are the reasons why millions will fill the venues whilst billions watch on TV, you are here to continue the journey that started by Ludwig Guttmann and write the next chapter in the history of the Paralympics movement. You not only have the ability to win medals in London but you have the abilities to change the world. You will deliver sports like never before. I wish you all the very best of luck and remember make sure you have fun."

British monarch Queen Elizabeth announced the opening of the Games.

Over the next twelve days, more than 4-thousand athletes from 166-counties and regions will participate in 300-events in 20-categories, contending for 503 gold medals.

282 athletes make up the Chinese delegation and they will compete in 15-categories of sports.

For CRI, I'm Su Yi.