Shakespeare, science dominate opening show

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The London Paralympics opened on Wednesday night literally with a Big Bang — a celebration of science featuring Shakespeare, theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking and umbrellas.

Sir Ian McKellen played Prospero from The Tempest and send Miranda out to discover the world. “I find my zenith doth depend on a most auspicious star,” he said.
The ceremony, directed by Bradley Hemmings and Jenny Sealey, had Hawking, who uses computer synthesiser to speak, narrator and guide. “We live in a universe governed by rational laws that we can discover and understand. Look up at the stars, and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious,” he advised Miranda as she went out to discover the universe and enlightenment, the theme for the evening.
Sir Isaac Newton’s apple of discovery also had a starring role and the audience participation also included apples as every spectator bit into an apple they had been provided with on arrival at the stadium as Miranda bit into one.
The Games were declared open by Queen Elizabeth II, who was accompanied by her youngest son, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex.

Records tumble as China takes first Games gold
AFP adds: World records tumbled in the pool and on the cycling track on Thursday, as the first day of competition got under way and China won the Games’ first gold medal.
At the Velodrome, seven-time Paralympic champion Sarah Storey — who won five swimming titles before taking two more when she switched to cycling in 2008 — clocked a new world best 3min 32.170sec in the women’s C5 3km individual pursuit. Meanwhile two other world records were set in qualifying for the women’s C1-2-3 3km individual pursuit: Zeng Sini, a C2 rider from China, broke the world best to book a place in the gold medal race against Australia’s Simone Kennedy.

Gayakwad clocks
personal best
India’s sole entry in swimming, Sharath Gayakwad set a personal best time of 1:07:12 in the qualifying event of the 100 metre butterfly event. Gayakwad finished fourth in his heat — 0.58 seconds slower than the qualification time for the finals.