Rio Paralympic Games opens at Maracana with carnival atmosphere
The Rio Paralympics got underway on Wednesday with a spectacular opening ceremony at the city's famous Maracana Stadium in front of thousands of spectators.
However Michel Temer, who took over from Dilma Rousseff as Brazil's president following her impeachment charges, was roundly jeered, with the crowd chanting "Fora Temer" ("Out Temer").
Head of the International Paralympic Committee, Sir Philip Craven, was also booed as he thanked Mr Temer when he addressed the audience.
Sir Craven said: "Through the performances of Paralympians, you will see the true meaning of sport and the true definition of ability.
"You will witness how Paralympic sport has the ability to inspire an individual, and the outstanding capacity to transform communities, countries and continents."
The Paralympics has been embroiled in the worst build-up in its 56-year history coupled with poor ticket sales, but the atmosphere at the opening ceremony - on Brazil's Independence Day - was electric.
There was an audible gasp in the 78,000-seat stadium as extreme wheelchair athlete Aaron 'Wheelz' Fotheringham got the ceremony underway as he propelled himself in a wheelchair down a six-storey high ramp and through a hoop.
The party then turned from the pool to the beach - Brazil's 10-time Paralympic champion Daniel Dias swum in a virtual pool before 400 colourful samba dancers performed on virtual sands before forming a Brazilian flag to loud cheers.
It is the biggest Paralympics yet in terms of athletes participating. More than 4300 athletes from 159 nations, plus two refugees in an independent team, will be competing.
However the evening didn't go without controversy as a member of the Belarus delegation carried the Russia flag on their parade, before it was confiscated.
Russia is absent from the Games due to a ban for state-sponsored doping.
Lee Pearson led ParalympicsGB into the arena as part of a show with a central theme of "Everybody has a heart".
The 10-time equestrian gold medallist was chosen by his 263 fellow athletes, who are aiming to surpass their London 2012 total by winning 121 medals over 11 days of competition.
"That was one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life," said Pearson.
He added: "Now let's crack on with the Games and show the world what we can do. It's been an absolutely brilliant opening ceremony."