The World Paralympics competition started in Christchurch today. This is a nine-day event and athletes hope they can qualify for the Paralympics held following the Olympic Games in London next year. About 1000 athletes are in Christchurch for this event.
The opening ceremony was held in the centre of the city yesterday. The athletes paraded from the Avon River on Worcester St into the Square, just one block away. They were led by a brass band and at the end was a Samba band playing drums. They marched in alphabetical order, Algeria first and Uzbekistan last, then the host country New Zealand. They looked very colourful in the uniforms of their country. They seemed very proud and excited, carrying their flag and waving to the crowd. Wheelchair athletes were usually in the front of each group. Blind athletes were holding on to their partner. In the Square, there was a Maori Powhiri, (welcome) then the Maori leader sang the New Zealand national anthem in Maori then in English. After that, there were speeches from the organizers, the Prime Minister, the mayor of Christchurch and others.
For the next nine days, the athletes will be racing on the track, or competing in field events like long jump, or throwing the discus.
This is a big event for the athletes but also for New Zealand. It is the first Paralympics to be held in New Zealand. Usually it is held in Europe.
Questions
Can you imagine the difficulties for a blind runner? They each have a guide who runs in the lane beside them. They are attached by a tape around the wrists. What kind of person do they need as a guide? What kind of person would volunteer to be a guide for a blind runner?