The world's attention has turned again to Beijing where the Paralympics opened last night with a ceremony to rival that of the main Olympics.

Our China correspondent Stephen McDonell was at the main "Bird's Nest" stadium.

The organisers of this opening ceremony say its purpose is to praise the athletes with disabilities who inspire and motivate the whole world. Hundreds of performers rehearsed for nine months to present a spectacle of light and sound in front of more than 90,000 people.

The surreal and dreamlike performances at the opening ceremony are said to represent the idea that all life has value.

All life has dignity and all life has a dream.

It's been a grand welcoming for the paralympians who are expected over the next 10 days to smash the records set at previous games.

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