Paralympics-live blogging Part 2

A medal winning power lifter from India is highlighted by the announcers, a flag bearing discus thrower from Lithuania - and contingent after contingent with athlets waving, some dancing as they enter the stadium to the continuing cheers of those in the stadium.

Here's the Canadian team- Chantal, and Misty Thomas, 44 years old , legendary wheelchair basketball players. They have a strong history in that sport, but lost three times this year to the US. The Canadian team had a giant moose at the Sydney games on top of their headquarters and someone stole it, although the announcers, former Paralympians, disclaim any responsibility!

The announcers are talking about the top quality venues and athletes and how the Paralympics have grown. Here's the athletes from Spain, a very large contingent that won 20 gold medals in 04, dressed in vibrant red suits and red banded white hats.

Here's the Iranian team pushing into the stadium, some walking behind, in silver suits with burgundyshirts for the men, all silver outfits for the women. Another large delegation. The spectators continue to wave the flags handed out, not wavering as the ceremony goes on.

Here's Guatemala, now Hungary- the women dressed in white outfits with splashes of red, men in white jackets, red ties. Iceland has a flag bearer who is a sprinter. A small team of 17 from Angola arrive dressed in camo pants and yellow shirts. Jordan arrives with 12 athletes, including their gold table tennis player from Sydney. Finland, in striped blue and white outfits, arrive.

None of the wheelchair athletes have been allowed onto the main stadium track yet, so there's some discussion as to how fast it will be. They've been using a different practice track so far. In basketball, the composition of the floor also makes a difference and there's a parquet floor in China which is the best for speed/traction.

Greece arrives, not first as in the Olympics, 69 athletes in 11 sports. One of the athletes is being carried on a coach's shoulders - he must have a great view!

More to come...
[image description: The red and white clad large Japanese team arrive in the stadium, led by a female Chinese host in one of those pink dresses.]