Humanity Shines In City's Eyes
Newcastle Herald
Thursday October 19, 2000
AFTER more spectacle in the past month or so than most cities experience in a generation or even longer, Sydney turned out again last night and turned on their torches in their thousands in an even more potent lesson in humanity than the Olympics provided.
Until last night the Paralympics were a rather unknown quantity but at the raucous Opening Ceremony they revealed themselves to be devoid of the superfluous solemnity of their parallel Olympic movement.
Most significantly, they showed from the beginning that they have a sizeable heart to match even that of Sydney's, pumped with pride from a joyous month in the world spotlight.
In a festive Paralympic Opening Ceremony that felt a lot more new age than new world ? what with inflatable angels, a bizarre massed painting bee and enough primary colours to heat the stadium on a chilly, damp night ? 4000 athletes of the world were welcomed.
In what was more of an excuse for a gigantic party than necessarily an opportunity to leave a cultural imprint on the world, the athletes were invited to join the convivialities from almost the beginning of proceedings.
It made the Paralympic parade of the nations considerably more bearable than its equivalent at the Olympics.
One can only hope Juan Antonio Samaranch, who was present as a guest of the International Paralympic Committee, was taking notes.
The athletes, beginning with Algeria and ending with Australia, entered the biggest stadium before the biggest crowd in Paralympic history.
It was difficult to resist the feeling that this was the movement's most magic moment.
The athletes limped, wheeled and were led out into the stadium and for none of them was it anything other than pure joy.
Perhaps Sydney's biggest tribute to the Paralympics happened outside the stadium, where scalpers were seen to be selling tickets.
For an event used to giving tickets away to fill stadiums that's quite an achievement.
© 2000 Newcastle Herald