The Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games took place at the Maracanã Stadium this evening ©Getty Images

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The Ceremony began with American extreme wheelchair athlete Aaron Wheelz jumping through a giant ring and landing on a huge inflatable mattress ©Getty Images
The Ceremony began with American extreme wheelchair athlete Aaron Wheelz jumping through a giant ring and landing on a huge inflatable mattress ©Getty Images
Swimmer Ibrahim Al-Hussein, who lost his leg in a bombing in Syria, was the first athlete to enter the Maracanã as the flagbearer for the International Paralympic Athletes team ©Getty Images
Swimmer Ibrahim Al-Hussein, who lost his leg in a bombing in Syria, was the first athlete to enter the Maracanã as the flagbearer for the International Paralympic Athletes team ©Getty Images
Hosts Brazil concluded the Parade of Nations, led by London 2012 gold medal-winning javelin thrower Shirlene Coelho ©Getty Images
Hosts Brazil concluded the Parade of Nations, led by London 2012 gold medal-winning javelin thrower Shirlene Coelho ©Getty Images
Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman was greeted with a chorus of boos whenever he referred to the Government in his speech ©Getty Images
Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman was greeted with a chorus of boos whenever he referred to the Government in his speech ©Getty Images
Protesters jeered Brazil’s new President Michel Temer (centre) as he officially opened the Games ©Getty Images
Protesters jeered Brazil’s new President Michel Temer (centre) as he officially opened the Games ©Getty Images
A seductive dance featuring an industrial robot and Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy of the United States aimed to highlight human kind's coexistence with technology ©Getty Images
A seductive dance featuring an industrial robot and Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy of the United States aimed to highlight human kind's coexistence with technology ©Getty Images
The Paralympic Flag is hoisted into position ©Getty Images
The Paralympic Flag is hoisted into position ©Getty Images
Swimmer Clodoaldo Silva, one of Brazil's most decorated Paralympians with 13 medals, lit the Paralympic Cauldron ©Getty Images
Swimmer Clodoaldo Silva, one of Brazil's most decorated Paralympians with 13 medals, lit the Paralympic Cauldron ©Getty Images
The Cauldron will remain lit throughout the 11 days of competition, which is due to begin tomorrow ©Getty Images
The Cauldron will remain lit throughout the 11 days of competition, which is due to begin tomorrow ©Getty Images