The 2016 Paralympic Games opened in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday evening at the legendary Maracana Stadium with a glittering opening ceremony.

The 2016 Paralympic Games opened in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday evening at the legendary Maracana Stadium with a glittering opening ceremony. 

The central theme of the three-hour opening ceremony was "Everybody has a heart".

The ceremony was attended by the President of the International Paralympic Committee, Philip Craven, as well as senior officials in Brazil and heads of delegations participating in the games.

Egypt, with 45 male and female players, is competing in the following games; table tennis, athletics, powerlifting, swimming and sitting volleyball.

Nearly 500 specialists participated in the the opening ceremony of the games that will run till September 18. 

US snowboarder and Paralympic medalist Amy Purdy, who won bronze at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games, performed a show at the event.

More than 4,000 athletes from more than 160 teams worldwide took part in the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

Source: MENA