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Well, that had a bit of everything: plenty of fun, colour and fireworks.

For the next 10 days, we've got you and your Paralympics needs covered. There's live coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra, with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Jonathan Overend leading the way.

We'll also be tapping away until the small hours to bring you live text commentary every day.

You can work out when you need to set those alarms for here. Until tomorrow!

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Ticker tape comes down onto a cast of more than 2,000, and there's one last burst of fireworks as the opening ceremony finishes.

Samba, fireworks, drums and the cauldron pulsing rounds off the opening ceremony. Not even the rain can spoil this. There's a performance from Seu Jorge to close the ceremony.

The cauldron is lit! With that, the 2016 Paralympic Games are under way!

Marcia passes the flame on to Adria Rocha Santos, who completes the course and hands the torch on to the final athlete, Clodoaldo Silva. He reaches the stairs which transform into a wheelchair ramp, enabling him to reach the Paralympic cauldron.

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The moment we've all been waiting for - the Paralympic flame enters the arena. It's carried by two time gold medallist, Brazil's Antonio Delfino, who hands it to Marcia Malsar. She falls, but she gets back up and the crowd rise as one to applaud her.

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Supremely good samba moves from Amy Purdy - the robot bows to her as they finish their dance. 

Here's Amy Purdy, the American snowboarder who is also a ballerina. She had her legs amputated and is performing a dance with... a robot! The dance is called 'Technology and Us.' 

So, what's coming up?

Cyclist Dame Sarah Storey is searching for her 12th gold medal as she goes in the women's C5 pursuit at 21:12 BST.

In athletics, there could be medals for Britain's Kyron Duke in the men's F41 shot put final and Sammi Kinghorn in the women's T53 100m (16:30 & 22:54 BST). 

In the pool there's Andrew Mullen, who could challenge Brazil's Daniel Dias in the men's S5 200m freestyle (15:31 BST).

But first, we'll bring you some hoops action as GB women face a tough start against world champions Canada (13:30 BST). 

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And now the Paralympic oath, which is taken by Phelipe Andrew on behalf of all athletes.

Absolute silence around the stadium as the flag reaches the stage and the Paralympic anthem is played.

It's almost time - the Paralympic flag is carried into the stadium by a group of Brazilian children.

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The sails form the Agitos, the symbol of the Paralympics. It's right in the centre of the stadium as the fireworks light up the sky. Lovely.

We're into the final section now, which starts off by paying tribute to the familes of the athletes. Huge white sails are carried onto the stage by dancers who are fighting against the wind. The Paralympic motto is 'spirit in motion' and that is what the sails are forming.

Double backflip to kick off the Rio Paralympics? No problem for Aaron 'Wheelz' Fotheringham.

Now a mimic of Da Vinci's Vitruvian man. The floor is transformed with some geometric shapes that surround the dancers, which eventually transforms into a human kaleidoscope. 

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Visually impaired dancers Oscar and Renata perform a perfectly-synched dance as they dance through touch alone. A tactile pavement lights up their movements.

Everything is now lit up like a rock stadium, complete with electric guitars as the soundtrack. The cast create some cool designs with the light sticks, before making way for Oscar and Renata.