Athens welcomed the 12th Paralympic Games with a spectacular Opening Ceremony, which took place on Friday 17 September, at 20:30pm, in the Olympic Stadium where 3.837 athletes, representing a record number of 136 nations, paraded.

A plane tree, 25 metres tall, and a sun along with the basic elements of nature (water, fire, earth and wind) were part of the simple and anthropocentric Ceremony. Afroditi Simiti, Giannis Zouganelis and Sophia Roboli were the Masters of the Ceremony, while Vicky Leandros and Marios Frangoulis also took part.

3,000 volunteers were present in this Ceremony as well, having again a significant role to play.

The President of the Greek Republic, Costis Stephanopoulos declared the opening of the Games, while the President of ATHENS 2004 Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and the President of the International Paralympic Committee, Phil Craven addressed the public.

The Paralympic flame was lit impressively by Georgios Toptsis, Greek Athletics athlete of Long Jump. The lighting of the Stadium’s Cauldron signaled the start of the Games.