The opening ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics on Saturday night won applause in Japan.

Japan's major broadcaster NHK, or Nippon Hoso Kyokai, broadcasted the ceremony live on its educational channel. When the ceremony started, Akira Takahashi, former head coach of Japan's national wheelchair basketball team and one of the commentators, said the fervor of the Beijing Olympics had returned to the Bird's Nest, China's National Stadium.

Holding the Paralympics in China will boost the sport cause of the handicapped all over the world, Takahashi said.

Kyodo News reported that China feted the Paralympics with a gala opening ceremony, saying athletes were given a warm and enthusiastic reception by an audience of 90,000 people as they paraded into the National Stadium.

The brisk performance of the brilliantly-dressed dancers and the beautiful melody played by the blind pianist demonstrated the love for nature and the delight in life, it said.

Spectators were then treated to a lavish display of music, dance, fireworks and slick visual effects, Kyodo said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2008)