Kate Grey
Two-time Paralympian on BBC Radio 5 live

We've had cheers, we've had boos and I think this just shows the passion of the Carioca people. They are here to fully support these Paralympic Games.

The Maracana has been lit up in a huge flash of white light, from a deconstructed eye. Then dancers appear, each with 'canes' made up of huge white glow sticks. This is designed to make the audience question how much we use our sight over other senses.

Image source, Getty Images

Brazilian president Michel Temer is welcomed onto the stage by Sir Craven - less so by the crowd, who boo him, but he declares the games officially open.

International Paralympic Committee president Sir Phillip Craven: "Rio is powered by its people and the carioca will know what these Games will do to drive the force of inclusion."

Boos again as Craven thanks the Brazilian government, but there's more cheers as he thanks the athletes and the Brazilian people.

And here's the heart of the Paralympic Games.

Image source, Getty Images

President of the International Paralympic Committee, Sir Philip Craven: "The Paralympics will surrpise you, inspire you, but most of all, they will change you.

"Proud Paralympians, you are role models for what the world wants to see it today's sporting heroes."

Cheers again, however, as Nuzman welcomes the athletes to Rio.

"You are superhumans. You know that impossible is nothing," he says.

Massive boos from the Rio crowd as Nuzman mentions the Brazilian government. The country is having political problems at the moment and the boos have forced him to stop speaking.

President of the Rio Organizing Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman: "We aim to build a better world where we are all able to walk hand in hand with no obstacles." 

"We are the country of impossible realisation and we have the best partners in the world."

The heartbeat at the centre of the Maracana has everlasting energy. It symbolises the message at the core of this ceremony, which is that the heart knows no limits.

Image source, Getty Images

Carlos Arthur Nuzman, the president of the Organizing Committee for Rio, and Sir Philip Craven, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, now take centre stage.

The entire Maracana is lit up in red and black as the heart beats right at the centre. And then fireworks! Because what is an opening ceremony without some fireworks?

Rob Hatch
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

Lights from mobile phones and glow sticks are flying around the stadium. 

The theme here is that everyone has a heart.

Brazilian artist Vik Muniz fits in the final piece of the jigsaw, which is made up of the faces of all the Paralympic athletes. All the faces come together to form a beating heart, which starts beating in time to the music.

The jigsaw is the centre of the arena is just missing the final piece - the one from the Brazil athletes. There's some top-notch flag waving going on though - they've been doing that for some time now!

One of the Brazilian athletes is an excellent dancer. Nifty bit of footwork there as Brazil keep on dancing.

Missed Great Britain's entrance earlier today? Fear not, you can watch Lee Pearson lead out ParalympicsGB here.

And here comes the final nation, the hosts Brazil. They're led by Shirlene Coelho, and what a reception she and the team have received from a packed stadium. The music has cranked up a notch as Brazil enter, dressed in green, white and yellow.